Christopher Ryan's study of Dante and Aquinas, touching on issues of nature and grace, of explicit and implicit faith, and of desire and destiny, is intended to mark the difference between them in key areas of theological sensibility. Re-shaped and revised by John Took on the basis of papers made available to him from Christopher Ryan's estate, it seeks to deepen our understanding of one of the great cultural encounters in European letters. Christoper Ryan (1943-2004) was Professor of Italian in the University of Sussex and Dean of King's College, Cambridge. John Took is Professor of Dante Studies at University College London.