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A review by mythaster
The Purgatorio by Dante Alighieri, Dante Alighieri
3.0
I've never been a huge Divine Comedy fan, especially not the Inferno, so after reading that, I didn't have much hope for the other 2/3 of the story. I did like this more than the Inferno, but, still, I just don't agree with Dante's worldview enough to get really into it.
This translation is interesting, abandoning the strict terza rima by not following through with the rhyme scheme - it's not 'aba bcb' but 'aba cdc.' Also, the meter is whackadoo. Some lines scan great, but a lot are hell (haha, get it) to read in any sort of rhythm. Admittedly it irritated me for a while - the ideal version of Dante's tightly-woven, puzzle-piece poetry is usually what I live for, tbh - but after reading a few cantos of the Penguin edition, which DOES have the terza rima and reasonable meter, I actually sort of like this version better. It's less ornamental, more conversational, as if Dante is actually telling a story, rather than writing a poem. If that makes sense. So I have nothing against this edition, and even enjoy its flaws as something more than flaws. It's good.
There were some good punches of emotion, too, particularly towards the end. Almost all of it has to do with Dante and Virgil interacting. When Dante has to pass through the fire and Virgil's trying to convince him to go? When Dante goes to hide behind Virgil's skirts and Virgil is GONE? Ouch. So good. This version really bromances it up and that was, honestly, my favorite part. Not enough to give it four stars, not hardly, but... still. It deserves a mention.
This translation is interesting, abandoning the strict terza rima by not following through with the rhyme scheme - it's not 'aba bcb' but 'aba cdc.' Also, the meter is whackadoo. Some lines scan great, but a lot are hell (haha, get it) to read in any sort of rhythm. Admittedly it irritated me for a while - the ideal version of Dante's tightly-woven, puzzle-piece poetry is usually what I live for, tbh - but after reading a few cantos of the Penguin edition, which DOES have the terza rima and reasonable meter, I actually sort of like this version better. It's less ornamental, more conversational, as if Dante is actually telling a story, rather than writing a poem. If that makes sense. So I have nothing against this edition, and even enjoy its flaws as something more than flaws. It's good.
There were some good punches of emotion, too, particularly towards the end. Almost all of it has to do with Dante and Virgil interacting. When Dante has to pass through the fire and Virgil's trying to convince him to go? When Dante goes to hide behind Virgil's skirts and Virgil is GONE? Ouch. So good. This version really bromances it up and that was, honestly, my favorite part. Not enough to give it four stars, not hardly, but... still. It deserves a mention.