Sarah Vine on Dante

Great Lives - A podcast by BBC Radio 4

"Whenever I have too much to drink, I bang on about Dante ...." Sarah Vine makes a choice from the heart - the great Italian writer Dante Alighieri, father of the Italian language and author of the Divine Comedy. "I'm not an expert," she says, "mine is more of a romantic infatuation." Joining the outspoken Daily Mail columnist - listed recently with her husband, Michael Gove, on a 'most wanted' dinner party guest list - is Claire Honess, professor of Italian studies at Leeds University. Together they piece together an extraordinary life. Includes extracts from Radio 4's current production of the Divine Comedy starring John Hurt. Matthew Parris presents, the producer is Miles Warde.