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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
fast-paced
This was very dark and although I know it was made long ago kind of ignorant ? However I can appreciate the writing and see how this is a blueprint to so many other stories I love.
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
It’s one hell of a book!
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Observation: this is not my favourite translation of Dante's work.
Observation: this is the first of Dante's works I have ever read.
Observation: surprisingly, the above are not mutually exclusive.
The original was written in the early 14th C, so the problem with pitching a translation that is faithful, while at the same time accessible to a modern reader, is a tricky one. One possible solution is to leave it alone with a technical translation and copious foot/endnotes. Another is to aim for a dynamic translation that hopefully creates the same feelings/responses in a modern reader as it did with original readers. Whichever you choose, the task seems onerous.
It is clear that Robin Kirkpatrick knows his stuff. His academic credentials and publications attest to this. And yet. It seems that he has tried to please everyone and cover all possible bases. He offers about 50 (of 200) pages of end notes, with astounding language detail, background, and biographical information. I can imagine Dante scholars being in Dante heaven over all of it (whoops, getting ahead of myself in the trilogy there). For the layperson (me), the one-line canto summaries were useful, but the notes were frequently as mystifying as the main text. I could really have done with a bit more of a guide (Virgil, please) to help me through what was actually happening, rather than the conflicting historical details regarding a character mentioned briefly by some demon. Perhaps though, the endnotes have a different remit, and what I need is to buy a reader's guide.
At the same time, Kirkpatrick dabbles with dynamic translation especially with slang. He obviously has a solid grasp of the semantics, but to read "Just cool it, cool it, Tangletop" transports one to 1970's cop dramas rather than medieval masterpieces.
I can't say that I enjoyed the trip through hell (is one supposed to?), but it was instructive. Also, there seems to be an disproportionate number of Italians in Hell. I'm not sure what to do with this information.
Observation: this is the first of Dante's works I have ever read.
Observation: surprisingly, the above are not mutually exclusive.
The original was written in the early 14th C, so the problem with pitching a translation that is faithful, while at the same time accessible to a modern reader, is a tricky one. One possible solution is to leave it alone with a technical translation and copious foot/endnotes. Another is to aim for a dynamic translation that hopefully creates the same feelings/responses in a modern reader as it did with original readers. Whichever you choose, the task seems onerous.
It is clear that Robin Kirkpatrick knows his stuff. His academic credentials and publications attest to this. And yet. It seems that he has tried to please everyone and cover all possible bases. He offers about 50 (of 200) pages of end notes, with astounding language detail, background, and biographical information. I can imagine Dante scholars being in Dante heaven over all of it (whoops, getting ahead of myself in the trilogy there). For the layperson (me), the one-line canto summaries were useful, but the notes were frequently as mystifying as the main text. I could really have done with a bit more of a guide (Virgil, please) to help me through what was actually happening, rather than the conflicting historical details regarding a character mentioned briefly by some demon. Perhaps though, the endnotes have a different remit, and what I need is to buy a reader's guide.
At the same time, Kirkpatrick dabbles with dynamic translation especially with slang. He obviously has a solid grasp of the semantics, but to read "Just cool it, cool it, Tangletop" transports one to 1970's cop dramas rather than medieval masterpieces.
I can't say that I enjoyed the trip through hell (is one supposed to?), but it was instructive. Also, there seems to be an disproportionate number of Italians in Hell. I'm not sure what to do with this information.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
it was boring and repetitive…sorry Hozier and RF Kuang
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes