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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I have a soft spot in my heart for this 1300s kook who bottled a lifetime of spite in history's most epic poetic work. Dante is nothing if not vengeful.
However, only reading the Longfellow translation will leave many a little confused. Longfellow is above all a poet of his time, and that time was almost two hundred years ago. The ebb and flow of language has made that translation almost as hard to follow today. To combat this, I also read Robert M. Durling's translation alongside Longfellow's. This helped me decode the language into the 21st Century.
Also invaluable to reading Dante is Guy P. Raffa's Danteworlds. I recommend the Complete Danteworlds, since it will give you all three parts of the Comedy. But if you are only dipping your toes in Hell, there is one only on The Inferno. This complementary book tells you the history of the people Dante meets and the literary allusions that he uses. If you aren't up to speed with your 13th Century Italian politics, you cannot skip this book.
If you can make it through all of that, The Inferno (and The Divine Comedy in general) remains one of the finest examples of literature ever created. You do not have to be a Catholic or a Christian to gain from reading this, because it is just a great story.
However, only reading the Longfellow translation will leave many a little confused. Longfellow is above all a poet of his time, and that time was almost two hundred years ago. The ebb and flow of language has made that translation almost as hard to follow today. To combat this, I also read Robert M. Durling's translation alongside Longfellow's. This helped me decode the language into the 21st Century.
Also invaluable to reading Dante is Guy P. Raffa's Danteworlds. I recommend the Complete Danteworlds, since it will give you all three parts of the Comedy. But if you are only dipping your toes in Hell, there is one only on The Inferno. This complementary book tells you the history of the people Dante meets and the literary allusions that he uses. If you aren't up to speed with your 13th Century Italian politics, you cannot skip this book.
If you can make it through all of that, The Inferno (and The Divine Comedy in general) remains one of the finest examples of literature ever created. You do not have to be a Catholic or a Christian to gain from reading this, because it is just a great story.
This may be edition specific but... Why would you translate a book written in 1300s Italian into 1500s english. Its an odd choice. Also in this edition they give a summary before each canto, but listening as an audio book it was confusing. Would love to try again with a modern english translation
Tough read, but powerful. I thought often about those who ostracized him from his beloved Florence and how he wove his pain into to characters and setting. His work was worthy of naming my baby after him!
Dores illustrations are stunning throughout and help to carry you through this. It's a tough read though.
I've been intending on this one since I was a teen but man it's only a slog, not because it's poetry as I loved armitages green knight, nor because it's a classics as I tore through both Homeric epics
This is actually just dry aged work, he at times is essentially just listing, you will spend a lot of time with Google on hand because he's constantly just referencing cultural moments that are honestly niche
I don't discount it deserves a 5* review for its cultural relevance and impact it's made elsewhere on other works, but I could not recommend this, my only satisfaction is that I ticked off a reading goal of my own
I've been intending on this one since I was a teen but man it's only a slog, not because it's poetry as I loved armitages green knight, nor because it's a classics as I tore through both Homeric epics
This is actually just dry aged work, he at times is essentially just listing, you will spend a lot of time with Google on hand because he's constantly just referencing cultural moments that are honestly niche
I don't discount it deserves a 5* review for its cultural relevance and impact it's made elsewhere on other works, but I could not recommend this, my only satisfaction is that I ticked off a reading goal of my own
Poetic language, can be difficult for some readers, but overall enjoyable for lovers of high literature. Of the three realms Inferno is the most interesting, but the world building is exquisite, imaginative, and vivid. My edition had woodcuts that were absolutely beautiful. Very important piece of classic literature.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
loved the first two parts, but Paradise was a bit too theological for me
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Pinhead: Burn in hell? Ah, such a limited imagination.
Dante: Hold my wine.
In terms of interesting story and description Inferno > Purgatory > Paradise. I would recommend getting an annotated version so you know what people and events he's actually referring to.
Dante: Hold my wine.
In terms of interesting story and description Inferno > Purgatory > Paradise. I would recommend getting an annotated version so you know what people and events he's actually referring to.