This enthralling new translation of Dante’s Inferno immediately joins ranks with the very best” (Richard Lansing).One of the world’s transcendent literary masterpieces, the Inferno tells the timeless story of Dante’s journey through the nine circles of hell, guided by the poet Virgil, when in midlife he strays from his path in a dark wood. In this vivid verse translation into contemporary … translation into contemporary English, Peter Thornton makes the classic work fresh again for a new generation of readers. Recognizing that the Inferno was, for Dante and his peers, not simply an allegory but the most realistic work of fiction to date, he points out that hell was a lot like Italy of Dante’s time. Thornton’s translation captures the individuals represented, landscapes, and psychological immediacy of the dialogues as well as Dante’s poetic effects.
The product of decades of passionate dedication and research, his translation has been hailed by the leading Dante scholars on both sides of the Atlantic as exceptional in its accuracy, spontaneity, and vividness. Those qualities and its detailed notes explaining Dante’s world and references make it both accessible for individual readers and perfect for class adoption.
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4 out of 5 stars to Inferno, the first of three books in the “Divine Comedy” series, written around 1320 by Dante Alighieri. A few pieces of background information for those who many not know, before I get into a mini-review. Inferno, which means “Hell” was one of three books Dante wrote in the 14th century, essentially about the three spaces people occupy after death: Hell (Inferno), Purgatory and Heaven (Paradiso). I’ve only read Inferno, so I’m not able to discuss much on the other two, but I’d like to some day. They were not written in English, so I have read a translated version. These works are considered comparable in fame and beauty as those of William Shakespeare. OK… that said, my thoughts:
For as long as people have been alive, Christians, that is, they have worried about what happens after death, turning to God and the Bible. In the 14th century, religion was one of the only things people did with their lives besides work and raise a family. They had a lot of time to spend on it, wondering what might happen. Dante captures the exact sentiments we’ve all felt throughout our lives, and he displays it through the nine circles or gates of hell. He presents it as a torture for all those who did bad things while they were alive. The story, in its basic form, is Dante himself traveling in a boat through the river that runs through Hell, stopping to see each realm. He’s led by the famous poet Virgil. He encounters people or archetypes of people he knew and those he’s heard of. Essentially, it’s a story of justice and the contradictions in religious beliefs for all of God’s followers. Dante pushed people to think about their actions and beliefs. And he created a story based on his own journey to say everything he felt about what he’s experienced in life.
It’s full of questions. It’s been the basis for so many movies, books and plays in the future. It’s so often quoted or referenced, it’s literally one of the most famous works around… and to think it was written nearly 700 years ago is amazing. Though it’s no where near a comparison, it reminds me a little bit of The Ninth Gate, a movie with Johnny Depp, that I love, about people trying to reach the Devil. And it’s a translation of a new Spanish author I’m very fond of: Arturo Perez-Reverte. I’ve read one of his books and plan to read The Club Dumas soon.
As for this one, I encourage everyone to find a passage from The Divine Comedy, even if you prefer Paradise or Purgatory, something a tad more positive, just to see the language and the lyrics Dante shares. It’s beautiful. I could go on and on, but hopefully this is enough to wet your appetite.
I’ve worked with several other translations of the Inferno, and I’m liking this one. The story is told with different nuances that arise out of the translations. This stopped me in my tracks when I started to see subtle word variations that I don’t recall seeing in others; these offer new depths. (I’m SO tempted to check “Whimsical” and “funny” above, but no.)
What can I really say about this book. You NEED to read it.
Reading in segments to digest content. Unusual version w/o Italian comparison page by page.
I have taught this book (I’m a retired English teacher), and I suggest reading an annotated version so you don’t miss anything! It’s a masterpiece for a reason.
This is a truly excellent translation.
A true classic that transcends time but difficult to follow the politics and warring factions in the city/state of 1300 Florence.
Wonderful new translation, with an excellent introduction by the translator explaining his reasons and methods for making this new translation. Also, excellent notes all the way through, that illuminate the references and underscore how contemporary and relevant they were to Dante and his readers. I can’t think how to express this (no poet, I!) but it’s like the lines read themselves to me, each verse carrying me on to the next so naturally, that I couldn’t bring myself to stop until I had read to the end of each canto. It’s just beautiful, and astonishingly relevant even now — or perhaps, especially now.
The Inferno is one of those classics that everyone should read even if you, like me, don’t believe in hell. Just don’t expect a happy ending – there isn’t one.
This is an epic poem, not prose. That being said, it is one of the great works in the history of literature. It’s important to find a great translation, especially one that gives a brief blurb before each canto so you understand Dante’s references. His vision of hell is incredibly in depth an original, and you will learn a great deal about some of the more unsavory characters in Italian history.
Imaginative and allegorical
Dante’s Inferno Predates the printing press yet is still in print. No belief system, religious or otherwise, relies on its being available. Quotes from this Italian book lie pertinent in the English lexicon.
Read it and find out why.
This book is a great poem about life crisis, starting with mid life crisis and helps the imagination deal with the problems and to how and where to look for guidance. it is archetypal.
Read it for a college literary course
I studied the John Ciardi translation in college and would like to rereadthis translation as an adult
One of the best translations I’ve read.
A Classic.
Important work of classic literature
Classic
It was a non sleeper. Loved every minute