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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Following its starring role in Dan Brown’s eponymous novel, Dante’s Inferno seems an obvious follow-up.
This classic is surprisingly easy to read. Translated into English, the verse is accessible to the modern reader, although many of the references to Dante’s contemporaries do need the widely available commentaries to have their significance explained. The Penguin, 2013 version (available from Amazon, Waterstones and the publisher’s website http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141393544,00.html?strSrchSql=inferno/Inferno_Dante_Alighieri) has a great section at the back with brief commentary on each canto that helps the modern reader appreciate Dante’s cultural references without any fuss.
The vivid imagery of Dante’s nine circles of hell is much more disturbing than you might expect. Each sin is delivered just retribution in a variety of appropriate and uncomfortable ways.
It is little surprise that readers of this work on its initial publication found themselves returning in their masses to church. Dante paints a scarier, more real hell than the bible itself; a place nobody would wish to go.
This is a classic text that everyone should read.
This classic is surprisingly easy to read. Translated into English, the verse is accessible to the modern reader, although many of the references to Dante’s contemporaries do need the widely available commentaries to have their significance explained. The Penguin, 2013 version (available from Amazon, Waterstones and the publisher’s website http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141393544,00.html?strSrchSql=inferno/Inferno_Dante_Alighieri) has a great section at the back with brief commentary on each canto that helps the modern reader appreciate Dante’s cultural references without any fuss.
The vivid imagery of Dante’s nine circles of hell is much more disturbing than you might expect. Each sin is delivered just retribution in a variety of appropriate and uncomfortable ways.
It is little surprise that readers of this work on its initial publication found themselves returning in their masses to church. Dante paints a scarier, more real hell than the bible itself; a place nobody would wish to go.
This is a classic text that everyone should read.
THIS is what I look for in a classic!
Even though I only read a handful of Cantos because of a course I'm following, I'm planning on re-reading them and read the whole thing asap. This one's going on my "favorite classics" shelf, for sure.
Even though I only read a handful of Cantos because of a course I'm following, I'm planning on re-reading them and read the whole thing asap. This one's going on my "favorite classics" shelf, for sure.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How many, in the world above, pose there
as kings but here will lie like pigs in muck,
leaving behind them horrible dispraise
as kings but here will lie like pigs in muck,
leaving behind them horrible dispraise
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s good to ready when you’re going through something that seems hopeless, even Hell has a way out. Definitely of the time and a lot wouldn’t be acceptable today, but the general themes and structure can be interpreted throughout the history of human nature. I would recommend looking up history of Dante and those he finds in the inferno to better understand why this story was so important to the Renaissance period.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes