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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I wish I could read the original text, because the poetry of the text would probably feel much more pronounced (I enjoyed Milton’s Paradise Lost, which I was able to read in its more-or-less original state), but as it is the piece is a very long series of historical ‘anecdotes’ briefly broken up by theological insight and self-indulgent descriptions of Dante’s own place in the story.
I will hopefully finish it one day, but everything I see says Paradiso is the worst of the triad, and Purgatorio is already such a drag that I feel I need to stop, at least for now.
Inferno was enjoyable at times, and there are a few very memorable lines, but there are only so many times you can read the same canto/stanza.
I will hopefully finish it one day, but everything I see says Paradiso is the worst of the triad, and Purgatorio is already such a drag that I feel I need to stop, at least for now.
Inferno was enjoyable at times, and there are a few very memorable lines, but there are only so many times you can read the same canto/stanza.
mysterious
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ich muss zugeben, dass ich massivst enttäuscht wurde. Ich habe einiges mehr als eine bloße "Self insert fan fiction" erwartet. Prinzipiell kann man sagen, dass das Buch pro Abschnitt dröger und langatmiger wird; die Hölle ist tatsächlich noch der "beste" Abschnitt. Zudem folgt nahezu jedes Kapitel dem Schema: 2 - 5 Seelen werden aufgetroffen und nach ihrem Leid befragt, von Dante abgeurteilt und die Reise geht weiter. Das wiederholt sich bis zum Ende. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich das sage, aber ich bin froh fertig zu sein und kann mich jetzt schon an das Wenigste erinnern. Eine Zusammenfassung reicht definitiv aus.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my second full readthrough of Sayers’ translation of Inferno—and it reaffirmed to me the great strengths and weaknesses of her approach. Her introduction and commentary, though outdated, are insightful and intriguing. She takes Dante’s perspectives—however similar or different from her own or our own today—very seriously. I love her approximation of the terza rima so much. Though it sometimes doesn’t add to the narrative, and often makes it more opaque, when it works, it’s like the story is singing; the rhythm and rhyme come together beautifully. It’s engrossing, and makes me understand why the story has had the influence and longevity it has. And that’s to say nothing of the story. Witty, endearing, sad, sometimes scary. Dante is so human, frail and frightened, but full of love and determination. His relationship with Virgil blooms through the text, and Sayers’ translation augments these moments (“his old, sweet smile”). This can be a tough read, and takes patience, but I think Sayers’ translation is incredibly underappreciated.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes