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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Singleton's translation is literal and faithful, and his occasionally odd or awkward word choices are adequately explained in the exhaustive commentaries that accompany the canticles. The commentaries are obviously the culmination of a lifetime's work, and are probably meant more for Dante scholars than the casual reader. At points I found myself lost in the commentary and losing track of the Comedy itself, but without it I would have skipped over hundreds of Dante's references and felt lost in a different way. As it is, I feel like I've only scratched the surface of the poem. It's an incredibly rich work and can be read on several levels at once -- religious, political, historical, literary, and biographical. It's an epic poem and a medieval encyclopedia at the same time. On the other hand, it is a good example of why Aristotle criticises the "episodic" storyline. Dante was concerned with other structural aspects of the poem, and these are highly developed, but to the detriment of plot.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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
inspiring
medium-paced
I don’t really know how to rate this, so three stars is based on how much I enjoyed reading it.
This was a trip. I found the first half of the book very digestible for something written 700 years ago. It was archaic but also straightforward and imaginative. It was interesting to see an early narrative of the same religious formations of the afterlife and ideas of sin that have pervaded (rather unfortunately) into modernity.
Of the translation of this edition, I found it hit or miss. Each chapter was followed by brief notes. At first they were helpful to understanding and giving context to what the hell was going on. Eventually, the notes got really overly complicated and inaccessible to someone who doesn’t have any context of medieval italy (which I don’t because I am not a total nerd).
I’d say the first half of the book, until they entered the Melabolge, I understood what was going on. Then, the next 20 cantos were insufferable to power through.
It was honestly tea that Dante was name dropping all these people he knew in his real life and saying they were in hell. A total diva.
This was a trip. I found the first half of the book very digestible for something written 700 years ago. It was archaic but also straightforward and imaginative. It was interesting to see an early narrative of the same religious formations of the afterlife and ideas of sin that have pervaded (rather unfortunately) into modernity.
Of the translation of this edition, I found it hit or miss. Each chapter was followed by brief notes. At first they were helpful to understanding and giving context to what the hell was going on. Eventually, the notes got really overly complicated and inaccessible to someone who doesn’t have any context of medieval italy (which I don’t because I am not a total nerd).
I’d say the first half of the book, until they entered the Melabolge, I understood what was going on. Then, the next 20 cantos were insufferable to power through.
It was honestly tea that Dante was name dropping all these people he knew in his real life and saying they were in hell. A total diva.
Hell was excellent, however, I must admit that I skimmed Purgatory and skipped Heaven altogether, as an adolescent atheist is wont to do. I intend to reread the Comedy in full at some time in my life.
challenging
hopeful
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
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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