An interesting article in Il Sole 24 Ore discusses Dante and his Divina Commedia’s enduring popularity.  Phrases and verses from the Commedia are commonly used in Italy today and many of the characters and situations from the work are well known.  Roberto Benigni’s readings of the Commedia are well-attended and frequently televised.  The article notes that even as interest in Dante studies in universities outside of Italy continues to grow, the opposite is true in Italian universities.  In Italy, rather than in academic settings, Dante lives on in cultural presentations and in everyday life.