This reference work seeks to provide a comprehensive and systematic identification of every proper name appearing within the corpus of Dante Alighieri's writings. Paget Toynbee, a preeminent scholar of Dante, compiled this dictionary to assist researchers and students in navigating the complex web of historical, mythological, and biblical figures referenced in the Divine Comedy and other works. The text functions as an encyclopedic index, offering biographical context and textual citations for each entry to clarify the poet's intent and source material.

Scholars and students of medieval Italian literature frequently cite this volume as a foundational reference tool for Dantesque studies. While the prose reflects the academic standards of its original publication era, the depth of the research remains highly regarded for its precision and utility in textual analysis.