Reviews

PURGATORY: Dante's Divine Trilogy Part Two. Englished in Prosaic Verse by Alasdair Gray by Dante Alighieri

dcsilbertrust's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

madisonj99019's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

thebruce's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense

5.0

pinteaalec's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

carmenx9's review

4.0

Still having a great time, but the story loses something once you're away from the demons

carterjj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

xaw0kn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

clauis_lib's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

suvata's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective

5.0

• Read in conjunction with Hillsdale College’s free online course, “Dante's Divine Comedy.”
https://online.hillsdale.edu/landing/dantes-divine-comedy

• 544 pages • first pub 1472 • fiction • classics • poetry • challenging • reflective • slow-paced • 5 Stars

We know what happens in Hell.. But what about Purgatory?

Dante's Inferno revealed some titillating details about the punishments inflicted on sinners - but in a way, we already knew what happens to people in Hell. What we don't know is what happens to people who end up in Purgatory. In this second part of The Divine Comedy, Dante probes the mysteries of that strange and often misunderstood place between Earth and Heaven.

Purgatory is a place to work through - no one gets stuck there forever. The souls in Dante's Purgatory must climb up seven terraces on Mount Purgatory before they can reach Heaven.

#DantesPurgatory #TheDivineComedy #DanteAlighieri #AnthonyEsolen #Bookstagram

mimig312's review against another edition

5.0

The second part to Dante Alighieri's the Divine Comedy, Purgatory picks up right after Dante and his guide, Virgil exit the depths of Hell. In Dante's vision of Purgatory, we learn that he has devised a multi-level ascent which is a reverse of the underworld of the Inferno. Dante and Virgil proceed into Purgatory and meet a wide array of spirits, some contemporaries of Dante, but most are figures of Italian, European or classical history. They also encounter many angels that serve to gather or guide the souls on their way.

This part of the Divine Comedy is considered "low comedy" as it does not end with a sad or tragic ending. Given that the setting is Purgatory, all the spirits that Dante encounters are purging themselves of sin and ascending to Paradise. This isn't exactly a "happy" state but the end result of the sinner's purging will result in their ultimate ascent to heaven. Depending on the sin, the purging can manifest in some sort of physical or mental penance that can last many earthly lifetimes.

As with the Inferno, I found it more helpful to read a guide to learn more about the various characters Dante describes in his cantos. It helps tremendously to understand the politics and culture of his time and gives greater meaning to the encounters he has with the spirits and angels. There's also a super helpful video guide posted on YouTube by AspectHistory that breaks down the meaning of several cantos in 10-20 minute videos:

https://www.youtube.com/c/AspectHistory