The Inferno (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

There have been several excellent translations of Dante in the past few years, all worth reading in their own right. But I retain a special affection for John Ciardi's version, as it's the first one I ever read, at the unprepared & overwhelmed age of 15. I knew of its reputation as a major classic & I was ignorant enough to be unfazed by the prospect of reading it.

Well, to say that I was soon in over my head is an understatement! But Ciardi's fine, lyrical translation, as well as his extensive but always clear notes, enabled me to go on without drowning. And what a journey it was! At the time, I was simply dazzled by the invention & imagery of the work; now that I'm older, I can appreciate its many psychological & spiritual levels. Both the capstone of the Middle Ages & the gateway to the Renaissance, Dante's masterpiece is a stunning exploration of the religious & political world of its time. A lifetime of knowledge went into its creation, and every intricately woven thread of poetry shines like gold, without ever becoming pedantic.

Whether you accept or reject a literal belief in God & Hell, the poem remains an astonishing revelation of & descent into the human psyche, the heart of darkness. Dante's insight that the damned have ultimately chosen their fate remains psychologically true today ... how many people trapped in the private hells of their own lives have placed themselves there, bemoaning their fate while unable to find the courage or strength to escape it?

But that's merely one level of meaning in this magnificent work. A visionary epic of learning, of faith, of poetry, it becomes deeper & richer with every new reading. If you don't know the original language, the next best thing is to read as many translations as possible -- and I still recommend Ciardi's as one of the best. This is an illumination of Hell that can't dim or fade with the years -- most highly recommended!

This is a very satisfying translation. It does not attempt rhyme so it can reproduce the rhythms of the original without distorting the meaning for the sake of English rhymes. The notes are breathtaking in their scope and thoroughness. It would probably be a good idea for readers new to Inferno to go through it once without the notes soas to be carried along by the poem, and then a second time reading the notes to examine closely the building blocks of Dante's genius.

For all its scholarship, this book is pleasant to deal with physically -- nice typeface, well laid-out pages, not too heavy in the hand. You can actually read it in bed without crushing your abdomen.

Ah, the famous Dante. Deep in language and writing in the prose of years gone by, this story speaks of his journey to the core of HELL. Featuring famous painted pictures showing people he knew in agony or bewilderment, the chapters clearly become deeper and dangerous as he nears the bottom. A must read for everyone and anyone, if not to understand the true use language to tell a tale of imagination or truth?

This version is great. First, the hardcover version is decorated without a dust jacket. I always like that, dust jackets get trashed. Second, beside a preface, it is simply the text of the poem - no notes at all. When it comes to literature of this sort I like to have a copy with notes to help me understand and a simple copy to read without distraction (more enjoyment). Third, it has lots of Gustave Dore's illustrations - awesome!
I'm not sure what version the negative reviewer has but it isn't this version. Mine has the poems in the proper order - Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso. There is a simple table of contents directing you to the first page of the Preface and to each poem.

This is a well written translation, although I'm not a scholar on translations from the Italian of Dante. It's easy to read and poetic. Extensive annotations explain the characters and the process of translation, especially where there is ambiguity or nuances of the the Italian that can't be translated. Surprisingly enjoyable read.

As for the work itself, it is important for its place in history and the effect it has had over the centuries. Much of it sounds like Dante's revenge against his political enemies (I wonder where his political opponents in Florence would put him it hell). The descriptions are vivid, horrid and fascinating. Being a non Christian, I would probably be in one of the rings of Dante's hell. However, it is only Dante's hell, after all.

The Inferno is a classic, must read. The electronic version I paid $5.99 for is rife with typos, at least one per chapter, occasionally more. This would be easily corrected by an editor- why wasn't it?

Also, this is a rough book to read on a kindle. With an introduction prior to each Canto and notes immediately following, it is difficult to flip from page to page in order to reference the sentence in the Canto with the intro explanation and/or the notes. While there is a page with an illustration of the circles of hell, a hard copy book with a color illustration is far more user friendly.

Please clean up the typos! You misspelled Virgil as Virgit (Note 39, Canto X ), Christ as Chritt (8-9 Anastasius and Photinus) and Aristotle as Arietotle (Note 17, Canto XI), for Pete sake!

Anxious to read my first English translation of Dante's poem I feared I would miss the joy of reading it in my native language so I searched for a book congaing both texts. This was just what I needed!

Although not always literal (understandably) I feel this text does a great job at capturing the essence of Dante's work.

Grazie mille.

Prepare for Dan Brown's Inferno, read the real thing first.
I know, opinions on translations are completely subjective. Having said that, I enjoyed Ciardi's version but always returned to Mark Musa's. Ciardi's forced rhymes left me feeling that the context and clarity of the story suffered. His notes aren't bad, but once you've read this translation take a look at Musa or Hollander (their notes are far superior also).
Warning: make sure you get the right translation, the store occasionally will mix these up in the description and reviews. Afterlife - An Introduction to Dante's Inferno
[...]

First read the Divine Comedy when I was about 14 (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). Just finished reading the fourth time (because I had just read Dan Brown's Inferno, which has so many references, threads, and writings from Dante's Inferno (the first of the three parts of The Divine Comedy). Each time I have read it, have acquired new insights. This literary classic is a profoundly deep read, difficult to navigate. Because I am a tad dark and twisted, I enjoyed it each time I read it I couldn't give it 5 stars because it just isn't the kind of book most people would bother to read, let alone enjoy.

I read a number of glowing reviews of Clive James's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy and almost immediately got it for my Kindle. I had read bits and pieces of The Divine Comedy before, but I could not put this translation down. What an incredible read on so many different levels, including but not limited to philosophical and theological ones. I know that I will go back to parts of it again and again, and it has already led me back to starting to reread some of Aristotle's works. Nothing could have been a better find for a philosophy professor who has taught for 40 years and is shuddering at the thought of who she might be after she retires in a few years.

This novel is amazing. I recommend that everyone reads it or at least has an understanding of it because it ties in to various religions and beliefs that people have. I would recommend that while reading the book you also read a summary of it in order to further your understanding.

This book needs to be read in small bites, explanations are in the back of the book would be better if it was places ate end of each chapter.instead of having to go look it up. other than that excellent.

I've tried reading this European masterpiece before, in translation. But while the architecture of the work was amazing, line by line it was often a hard slog. By creating a beautifully poised rendering in English with the allusions decoded in the text itself, Clive James has finally made this masterwork readable for me, while creating a new thing of great beauty, pleasurable in itself.

This novel is amazing. I recommend that everyone reads it or at least has an understanding of it because it ties in to various religions and beliefs that people have. I would recommend that while reading the book you also read a summary of it in order to further your understanding.

This book needs to be read in small bites, explanations are in the back of the book would be better if it was places ate end of each chapter.instead of having to go look it up. other than that excellent.

I've tried reading this European masterpiece before, in translation. But while the architecture of the work was amazing, line by line it was often a hard slog. By creating a beautifully poised rendering in English with the allusions decoded in the text itself, Clive James has finally made this masterwork readable for me, while creating a new thing of great beauty, pleasurable in itself.

This is the translation to buy . . . very clear and has notes at beginning of chapter what you are about to read, and at the end of the chapter to explain what certain lines mean. Very understandable and well written. Would highly recommend this version of the Trilogy, all three of them. Purgatorio and Paradisio, this Penguin version.

Read Ciardi translation for Houston Great Books club - Oct 29, 2016.
Ciardi Pros
- space on pages for writing notes/questions in the margins.
- Nice Summary of main characters / level at the beginning of each Canto
- helpful notes
Recommendations
- Mark Musa translations has the best notes, diagrams, and Glossary / Index of Persons / Places.
- Regardless of the translation, it is helpful to read other translations for comparison / clarity. I liked the combo of Ciardi / Musa.
- Get the Great Courses lectures by Herzman / Cook from Audible.com.
audible.com/pd/Classics/Dantes-Divine-Comedy-Audiobook/B00D8K4E4M
- Read Intro by Ciardi and/or Musa. Listen to Herzman/Cook Introduction. First 6 lectures.
- Read Inferno completely. Scan/read Notes that interest you. You don't have to read all of the notes.
- Listen to the Herzman/Cook lectures for Inferno.
- Search Google Images for paintings / pictures of each Canto. IE. "Purgatory Canto 29"
Very fun to see how artist depict the imaginative descriptions of Dante.
Note William Blake has Illustrations for several Cantos. Fantastic!!!
blakearchive.org/exist/blake/archive/object.xq?objectid=but812.1.wc.81&java=no
- repeat for Purgo and Paradiso
Possible Questions
- Why Virgil and Not a Christian Guide?
- Who deserves Inferno? Why?
- What is Dante's view of Gd?
- Why does Dante reference Mythology so much
- Why does Dante use numerology / science / astronomy?
- Search internet for other study guides/questions. IE Sparknotes.

probably the best one out there according to the reviews. Hell and Purgatory are interesting (I suppose that's like saying King Lear is interesting), but you've got to be inside the medieval mind to get to Heaven. All those cliches about harps and angels started here and should probably stay here. You can only take so much ecstasy and I felt like I could relate more to those interesting characters existing in eternal torment.

Are you kidding? Rate the Divine Comedy? Superb, life-changing, magnificent... add your own superlatives. But (for Heaven's sake, quite literally) don't stop with Inferno, which you probably read in high school literature by itself, for reasons I can't quite fathom. Go on with Dante and Virgil, and then Beatrice, through Purgatory and Paradise!

I haven't read the Divine Comedy since college. Recovering from major surgery and not being able to do much, I decided to re-visit Dante's journey into Purgatory. Still a delightful read if you enjoy the classics, after 709 years, The Divine Comedy is still divine!

I got Dante's Divine Comedy after starting Dan Brown's latest thriller, 'Inferno'. As he is constantly referring to sections of the Divine Comedy, I paused and decided to read Dante for the first time. It took a bit of getting used to but after you get in tune with the phrasing and period use of terms, it isn't hard to follow. It made Dan Brown's book much more exciting and easier to comprehend. Now I just have to visit Florence!

The Divine Comedy can be difficult reading because of the number of unfamiliar names from Dante's historical period. It was quite helpful to read an introduction to each canto plus explanations of unfamiliar names and terms following each canto. I enjoyed the translation but I've found each person can have very different tastes in this regard. It's best to open the the store book icon or download a Kindle sample and read/listen to a few pages to make one's own decision. My ratings are based solely on how much I enjoyed the book. I make no effort at objectivity.

This translation was recommended to me by a very erudite English professor. I can take no credit myself. Pursuant to my own reading, I find it is beautifully written and very clear and concise. If you have always wanted to tackle Dante's "Inferno" and maybe have been a little intimidated like me, or you are familiar with the other translations, I am told this one is the gold standard.

Esolen's excellent modern translation of Dante's Inferno is perfect for someone such as myself who does not have a good education in the classics nor in Latin. His style makes the great poem easy to read and understand and his notes are extremely helpful in understanding references to classical mythology and Italian history which Dante assumed his readers would have. I highly recommend this modern translation.

Dante's Inferno may be great, but this version is not. Find another free version, find a paid version, go to the library. . . anything but this.

First of all, the title implies you are getting all three parts. I read through 80% of the book wondering when we were going to see Dante's version of Hell when I finally realized that all I got with this was his "Paradise" and nothing else. If they were going to start with anything, why would it not be the most famous part, Inferno?

Not only that, but it hangs up. Sometimes I had to restart my kindle to even get it to open.

Oh, and after reading that 80%, I have yet to see one illustration. Not quite sure what they meant by illustrated. . .

And finally, the translation is awful. I could barely follow it. Actually, much of the time I couldn't follow it. It's confusing and in language that is a bit archaic.

In short, go with any version other than this one. This isn't even worth the "click" to download it.

I have read many of the different translations, but the Sinclair translations, with the original Italian on the opposite page, is my favorite. Dante is almost impossible to translate with all the subtlety of the original, but Sinclair gives a good sense of the original. There is also a synopsis and footnotes to help guide the reader.
Recommended highly.

I looked at various editions. This one is very close to the meaning in the original Italian. With each Canto, there are notes to help explain mythological characters and real people that the reader may not be familiar with. It also goes into a little bit of the history of Dante's time to help the reader better understand who some of the people are.

The original by Dante is written as ABA, BCB, DCD rhymes. To try to stay as close to the original meaning as possible, the translator is still able to keep a rhyming scheme: ABA, CDC. It is still beautifully written.

I would recommend this translation very highly.

An easy read in this “modern English translation” - and certainly a RECOMMENDED READ. However, the real value of this work seems (to this reader anyway) to be a benchmark of cultural history. In a sense, like an archaeological artifact...the Rosetta Stone that decodes time, in this case the time of Dante Alighieri. What it was not, for me (with a blush!) was a “good read” or even a particularly interesting read - other than the earlier acknowledged historical point. For the non-religious, more suspended disbelief than any modern reader could muster will be required.

Of course I acknowledge that I am overruled by higher authority, knowing that this is “...widely considered the most important poem of the Middle Ages and the greatest literary work in the Italian language” - Wikipedia. All right, I stand corrected, but with apologies, don't expect much fun or awe with this thing.

One of the greatest epics ever penned, "The Divine Comedy" takes us through a journey from Earth to Hell to Purgatory and to Heaven. This novel is not only classic, it's a must read; filled with theology and philosophy as you would find in any good trilogy. The story of Dante (who inspired the "Devil May Cry" character, Dante) is one that will make you think differently about life, religion and the world around aroun.

After seeing Dante referred to by so many Christian authors over the years, I finally decided I'd better read this "timeless spiritual classic." I was expecting a dry, dull slog.
Fortunately, I consulted a friend who is a Classicist. I told him I wanted to read Dante for spiritual value, not just as great literature (I'm no poetry expert, nor do I speak a word of Italian). He recommended Dorothy Sayer's translation.
Wow. Reading Dante during Lent is one long, detailed examination of conscience! It is great, and Sayers' explanations and commentaries are terrific: erudite, informative, drily witty, and full of spiritual insight.

Excellent book. The author provides a nice synopsis of each chapter, or canto, at the beginning of each one, and then pretty much a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis at the end of each canto, explaining all of the personal names and places mentioned by Dante, along with their significance and meaning. I can't imagine reading The Divine Comedy without a helpful analysis like this.

An easy read in this “modern English translation” - and certainly a RECOMMENDED READ. However, the real value of this work seems (to this reader anyway) to be a benchmark of cultural history. In a sense, like an archaeological artifact...the Rosetta Stone that decodes time, in this case the time of Dante Alighieri. What it was not, for me (with a blush!) was a “good read” or even a particularly interesting read - other than the earlier acknowledged historical point. For the non-religious, more suspended disbelief than any modern reader could muster will be required.

Of course I acknowledge that I am overruled by higher authority, knowing that this is “...widely considered the most important poem of the Middle Ages and the greatest literary work in the Italian language” - Wikipedia. All right, I stand corrected, but with apologies, don't expect much fun or awe with this thing.

One of the greatest epics ever penned, "The Divine Comedy" takes us through a journey from Earth to Hell to Purgatory and to Heaven. This novel is not only classic, it's a must read; filled with theology and philosophy as you would find in any good trilogy. The story of Dante (who inspired the "Devil May Cry" character, Dante) is one that will make you think differently about life, religion and the world around aroun.

After seeing Dante referred to by so many Christian authors over the years, I finally decided I'd better read this "timeless spiritual classic." I was expecting a dry, dull slog.
Fortunately, I consulted a friend who is a Classicist. I told him I wanted to read Dante for spiritual value, not just as great literature (I'm no poetry expert, nor do I speak a word of Italian). He recommended Dorothy Sayer's translation.
Wow. Reading Dante during Lent is one long, detailed examination of conscience! It is great, and Sayers' explanations and commentaries are terrific: erudite, informative, drily witty, and full of spiritual insight.

Excellent book. The author provides a nice synopsis of each chapter, or canto, at the beginning of each one, and then pretty much a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis at the end of each canto, explaining all of the personal names and places mentioned by Dante, along with their significance and meaning. I can't imagine reading The Divine Comedy without a helpful analysis like this.

This book is incorrectly formatted, each verse in each canto is not separated from the next by a line feed, so the metrical composition is lost. There is not even a space between the last word of one line and the next word of the following line, making the verses very difficult to read. How unfortunate we cannot preview Kindle books in the same way we can the print versions on the store. The one star rating refers to this edition, and not of course to Dante's work!

Unfortunately I don't speak Italian so I'll never read this in it original text. However i'm sure this must come very close to the same feel. The book is great, a story of a man who dives into hell to rescue a certain sole and gets to see all of the terrible things that befall toughs who do not fallow the word of his lord. It is of course hard to understand, expect to be re-reading pages multiple times.

Much of this classic work is so difficult to follow, as it presumes in-depth knowledge of medieval and classical literature. However, the word pictures in Dante's visions of hell, which stir fear of judgment, and of heaven, which elicit joy and gratitude for God's grace and infinite glory, make this great book well worth the read.

I don't know much about the various translations, but this one is surprisingly readable. A lot of older prose is so clunky that you need two years of dedicated study before you can take the meaning during the first read, but this one was pretty easy to follow. Some great imagery for sure...more people should read this, in my opinion. Dante's journey is really one which we can all identify with.