Dan Brown novel 'Inferno' revealed by readers

Dan Brown's next book, "Inferno," will be released on May 14, said publisher Double Day, before fans pitched in with tweets and Facebook posts as part of a campaign to reveal the book's title.

Fans were encouraged to share news of the release date via Twitter or Facebook; when they did, their profile picture then formed part of a mosaic revealing the "Inferno" name superimposed over an image of Florence.

"Inferno" will see the return of mainstay central character Robert Langdon, who appeared in "Angels & Demons," "The Da Vinci Code" and "The Lost Symbol."

Its title refers to the first part of Dante Aligheri's "Divine Comedy," the late Middle Ages poem whose author was a notable Florentine and involved in political affairs of the time.

"Although I studied Dante's 'Inferno' as a student, it wasn't until recently, while researching in Florence, that I came to appreciate the enduring influence of Dante's work on the modern world," Brown said in a statement released through Double Day. "With this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm...a landscape of codes, symbols, and more than a few secret passageways."

Official website: danbrown.com/inferno