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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 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.
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 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.
474 Reviews
3.5
nat ⚝
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Mykah
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Mark Tibbs
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Hannah
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“The more I read what others deem classical literature I realize I have very different opinions than others. So if you wish you may listen to my rant:
First of all this book was portrayed to me by family members very ingrained in religious aspects as a antithesis of Christianity, when if actually read it actually GREATLY supports it in every way (that is the entire basis). I had previously picked this book up a handful of times and have always put it back down. However, I was determined to grit my teeth and get through it as I am really trying to finish my physical TBR.
Dante’s intention is to connect theology and poetry to depict the multi level creation of hell (note: that he made in his mind) and show the function of punishment under God’s word. It felt like Dante was trying to BE GOD. As having had the Bible force fed down my throat it felt rather contradictory to Dante’s religious stance to decide who and how individuals in his personal life should be punished for their sins. Often committing the SAME exact sins these people were in Hell, when he is supposed to be plucked by God and his saints for a “special” path of exposure. So many moments that stepped against his Christian morals. For instance, Jesus himself speaks about being merciful and compassionate towards sinners (he literally washed the feet of and befriended sinners) yet Dante is told by his guide, Virgil, to not show such human emotions towards those who deserve their punishment.
I think the difficulty of reading this book fed a lot into my dislike of it. As it is a translation from Italian, written in 1321 (a different time and style of writing) and it was very repetitive in nature (as in I just don’t like poetry). The characters would enter a new circle in Hell, figure out what sin was being punished, talk to 2 or 3 individuals relevant to that day and age (mainly from Florence) and then leave to do the same thing OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
In the end I’m just glad it’s over….”
skeebo
Created 29 days agoShare
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About Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri, born in Florence in 1265, became one of the leading lyric poets in Italy as a young man. He was exiled for political reasons, and in the last fifteen years of his life composed The Divine Comedy, of which the Inferno is the most-read part today.
Other books by Dante Alighieri
Peter Thornton
Peter Thornton attended a Jesuit prep school in Manhattan, where the curriculum was based on Latin and Greek. After graduating from Boston College, he earned his PhD from Stanford University. He taught college English for several years before becoming a lawyer. The intellectual rigor of the law did not satisfy his hunger for poetry and he has spent decades translating the works of Dante and Petrarch into English verse. He currently resides in Evanston, Illinois.
Other books by Peter Thornton
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