Modern english translation kindle edition by dante alighieri. Which is the best englishlanguage translation of dante. Dantes divine comedy in plain and simple english translated kindle edition by dante alighieri, bookcaps. A new complete downloadable english translation with comprehensive index and notes. Dantes inferno modern english translation by dante. Its poetic, has notes, its cheaper and is contained in a single volume. Jun 19, 2003 buy inferno translation, bilingual by dante, hollander, robert, hollander, jean isbn. Previous part 2 next part 4 the frogs stand only with their muzzles out, so that they hide their feet and other bulk. In the poem, hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the earth. The inferno is the first of three parts of dantes epic poem, the divine comedy, which depicts an imaginary journey through hell, purgatory, and paradise.
This translation uses the longfellow translation as a base, but replaces the obscure or antiquated verbiage with the language of modern english. Her accurate, deeply pondered translation translates carries over dante into her own world, and ours. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dante s divine comedy in plain and simple english translated. Mary jo bang s inferno is an astute and subtle reading of dante that brilliantly reflects the inexhaustible capaciousness of the divine comedy. The original text is also presented in the book, along with a comparable version of smashwords dantes divine comedy in plain and simple english translated a book by bookcaps page 1. But ever as barbariccia near them came, thus underneath the. About his company virgil a roman poet he is kind of a consciousness of dante. The nook book ebook of the dantes inferno translated. Page 365 charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living god, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. The edge of the book that covers the binding has a snake engraved on it between the title and the illustrated by dore.
The lack of english translations before this is due in part to dantes catholic views being distasteful, or at least uninteresting, to protestant english audiences, who viewed such a catholic theology, mixed with references to classical mythos, as heretical. This penguin classics edition is translated and edited with an introduction and notes by robin kirkpatrick. Thorntons new translation of dantes inferno immediately joins ranks with the very best available in english. Also here are some links of my favorite artistic representations of dantes inferno, which. This book includes the italian version at the end of the book, notes on textual. Fifteen translations of dante compared boisterous beholding. A new telling of dantes inferno, this translation is the most fluent, grippingly readable version of the famous poem yet, andwith all the consummate technical. Every new translation of the divine comedy, though in itself a fresh tribute, however.
Dantes inferno the divine comedy, volume 1, hell, book. Read some translations though and see what you think. Buy inferno translation, bilingual by dante, hollander, robert, hollander, jean isbn. Eliot called such poetry the most beautiful ever writtenand yet. The writer, having lost his way in a gloomy forest, and being hindered by certain wild beasts from ascending a mountain, is met by virgil, who promises to show him the punishments of hell, and afterwards of purgatory.
Three large print short stories inspired by dantes inferno, linked by a book of human skin passed down through generations. Inferno is the first part of dante s epic poem the divine comedy, revealing the eternal punishment reserved for such sins as greed, selfdeception, political doubledealing and treachery. Discover dantes original inferno in this modern and acclaimed penguin translation. Depicting one mans horrifying journey into the depths of hell, inferno, the first part of dantes divine comedy, is a soaring spiritual epic that continues to echo through the centuries with its moving portrayal of human sin and the tragedy of those condemned to eternal damnation. Inferno is the first part of dantes epic poem the divine comedy, revealing the eternal punishment reserved for such sins as greed, selfdeception, political doubledealing and treachery. Describing dantes descent into hell midway through his life with virgil as a guide, inferno depicts.
This book is a modern translation with a fresh spin. The divine comedy, finished by dante alighieri in 20, is one of the most. A new telling of dantes inferno, this translation is the most fluent, grippingly readable version of the famous poem yet, andwith all the consummate technical skill that is the hallmark of sean obriens own poetrymanages the nearimpossible task of preserving the subtle power and lyric nuance of the italian original, while seeking out an entirely natural english music. But ever as barbariccia near them came, thus underneath the boiling they withdrew. Virgil, dante the pilgrims guide, leads him through the 7 layers of hell. Some translations are so elaborate that they are as difficult to read as the original italian version. Feb 07, 2010 fifteen translations of dante compared in my last post i compared john ciardi and allen mandelbaums translation of the inferno by looking at how they handled canto xxvi, lines 112120. Dantes divine comedy offensive and should be banned. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the inferno of dante.
Different versions of the inferno as interpreted by different translators the divine comedy is regarded as the foundation of modern literary italian. Play fulllength songs from dantes inferno modern english translation by dante alighieri on your phone, computer and home audio system with napster. Inferno is a fourteenthcentury epic poem by dante alighieri in which the poet and pilgrim dante embarks on a spiritual journey at the poems beginning, dante is lost. Describing dante s descent into hell with virgil as a guide, inferno depicts a cruel underworld in which desperate figures are condemned to eternal damnation for committing one or more of seven deadly sins.
Dantes great poem has everything in it, and mary jos inferno does too. These breathtaking lines conclude dantes divine comedy, a 14,000line epic written in 21 on the state of the soul after death. The lack of english translations before this is due in part to dante s catholic views being distasteful, or at least uninteresting, to protestant english audiences, who viewed such a catholic theology, mixed with references. The base text for this edition has been provided by digital dante, a project sponsored by columbia university s institute for learning technologies. Canto i the poem begins on the night of maundy thursday on march 24 or april 7, ad 0, shortly before dawn of good friday. Dantes inferno translated by dante alighieri bookshop. Divine comedy inferno dante alighieri wyoming catholic college. Inferno by dante alighieri penguin books australia. Most english translations of inferno are full of colorful, but meaningless language based on today s modern standards. Side by side translations of dantes inferno canto longfellow translation inferno. Henry francis cary december 6, 1772 august 14, 1844,an english author and translator. Matthew pearl is the author of the dante club, a literary thriller about a group of 19thcentury harvard scholars secretly working on a translation of the divine comedy who are forced out of.
How to create your personal hell in dantes inferno clips on the contemporariness of dantes inferno karlomongaya. The inferno of dante ebook written by dante alighieri. Nov 12, 2004 the inferno of dante alighieri, translated by ciaran carson granta. The inferno tells the journey of dante through hell, guided by the ancient roman poet virgil. The divine comedy by dante aligheri was translated into french and spanish and other.
This edition of the inferno revives the famous henry wadsworth longfellow translation, which first introduced dantes literary genius to a broad american audience. In fact the first english translation was only completed in 1802, almost 500 years after dante wrote his italian original. Dantes inferno modern english translation by dante alighieri. Dantes divine comedy has been translated maybe 1,000 times with varying success and now robert pinsky has dared to try by translating the first book, the inferno, and has produced an eminently readable and successful translation. Eliot called such poetry the most beautiful ever writtenand yet so few of us have ever read it. Dantes divine comedy has been translated maybe 1,000 times with varying success and now robert pinsky has dared to try by translating the first book, the. A translation of dantes inferno purgatorio, paradiso by d. As mentioned, im in florence, italy with my daughter for a speaking gig. Mary jo bangs inferno is an astute and subtle reading of dante that brilliantly reflects the inexhaustible capaciousness of the divine comedy. This translation, first published in 1909, is by henry wadsworth longfellow 18071882, american professor and poet inferno by dante alighieri is an epic allegory of the spiritual journey of man. I crossed out hollander because i figured i wanted a more poetic and artistic rendering of dante s work than a scholarly approach which is good for critical analysis but i couldnt see myself reading the 2600 page hollander version where 70% of the text is notes.
How to read dante in the 21st century the american scholar. Dante s great poem has everything in it, and mary jo s inferno does too. Questia read the fulltext online edition of dante s inferno 1885. The inferno is specifically about his journey through hell. This translation of the inferno, the first canticle of dante alighieris divine comedy, by robert and jean hollander, is one of the best that ive read. Dante s divine comedy in plain and simple english translated kindle edition by dante alighieri, bookcaps. To rear me was the task of power divine, supremest wisdom, and primeval love. It was one of the first major works of literature written in the italian language, rather than latin which was until then still the language of the scholars and poets. The divine comedy is dantes record of his visionary journey through the triple realms of hell, purgatory and. The binding has heavy thread and the pages have gold sides on all three sides when the book is closed.
The narrator, dante himself, is thirtyfive years old, and thus midway in the journey of our life nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita half of the biblical lifespan of seventy psalm 89. Before me things create were none, save things eternal, and eternal i endure. Discover dante s original inferno in this modern and acclaimed penguin translation. Ive heard pinskys translation of the inferno is really good. Description of the book dantes inferno in modern english. The project gutenberg ebook of divine comedy, longfellows translation, hell. The other 2 are his journey through purgatory, and then his journey through heaven. Their english version of the comedy is fast and straightforward, sticking close to the original text but adding vigor to what can sometimes be very bland in english. The inferno by dante alighieri translated by ciaran.
The dante in the story is the same name of dante alighieri which is the author of the book. Most english translations of inferno are full of colorful, but meaningless language based on todays modern standards. The inferno is a story of dantes journey in hell with the company of virgil. Dante is the hero, who loses his way in the dark woods and journeys to nine regions arranged around the wall of a huge funnel in nine concentric circles representing hell. But most of these translations are in verse, and the intellectual. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dantes divine comedy in. Thorntons very readable and accurate verse translation of the inferno captures. New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars. What is the value of dantes inferno book, translated by. So many versions of the divine comedy exist in english that a new one might well seem needless. English translations of dantes divine comedy wikipedia. Opting for unrhymed blank verse, the translator succeeds in capturing the poets firstperson narrative voice with unusual accuracy, spontaneity, and vividness, rendering the otherworld journey with vigor and a flair for the dramatic without ever sounding either strained or.
What is the value of dantes inferno book, translated by the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dantes inferno translated. Dantes inferno the divine comedy, volume 1, hell, book by. Italian for hell is the first part of italian writer dante alighieris 14thcentury epic poem divine comedy.
The word had no dramatic implication at that time, though it did involve a happy ending. I crossed out hollander because i figured i wanted a more poetic and artistic rendering of dantes work than a scholarly approach which is good for critical analysis but i couldnt see myself reading the 2600 page hollander version where 70% of the text is notes. The inferno of dante dante alighieri, robert pinsky. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In my last post i compared john ciardi and allen mandelbaums translation of the inferno by looking at how they handled canto xxvi, lines 112120. This translation includes an overview of the inferno, purgatory, and paradise, and more. Kindle, 238 kb, this is an ebook formatted for amazon kindle devices. Dantes inferno new edition by dante alighieri, 1885. The 15 translations are those of ciaran carson, john ciardi, anthony esolen, robert and jean hollander, robin kirkpatrick, stanley lombardo, henry. A complete listing and criticism of all english translations of at least one of the three books cantiche. The present translation, which is the result of over twenty years work with large classes in dante in english at brown university, was undertaken and continued with the object of meeting a need, which did not seem adequately met by the well known translations of cary, longfellow, norton, or others more recent. Henry wadsworth longfellow 18071882, himself a poet. Smashwords dantes divine comedy in plain and simple.
I have a shelf devoted to dante, but as of today, i give the nod to jean and robert hollander for their rather recent translations. Reading the inferno will let you foresaw the image of hell. Dantes inferno as interpreted by acclaimed artist sandow birk and writer marcus sanders is a journey through a hell that. Dante s inferno new edition by dante alighieri, 1885 online research library.
Opening the book we stand face to face with the poet, wrote william dean howells of longfellows dante, and when his voice ceases we may marvel if he has not sung to us. Not foliage green, but of a dusky colour, not branches smooth, but gnarled and intertangled, not appletrees were there. The poem is the narrative of a journey down through hell, up the mountain of purgatory, and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. We toured the palazzo vecchio on the first day, and happened on a bust of dante, and i. Dantes divine comedy in plain and simple english translated. Her accurate, deeply pondered translation translates carries over. Throughout the book, the main character is led by virgil, through each of the secen levels of hell, each one representing a different sin. The divine comedy changed my life, and it may do the same to you. Samuel beckett, whom we would do well to emulate, was once asked what ambitions he had. Canto xiii not yet had nessus reached the other side, when we had put ourselves within a wood, that was not marked by any path whatever.
Traveling through a dark wood, dante alighieri has lost his path and now wanders fearfully through the. A new telling of dante s inferno, this translation is the most fluent, grippingly readable version of the famous poem yet, andwith all the consummate technical skill that is the hallmark of sean obrien s own poetrymanages the nearimpossible task of preserving the subtle power and lyric nuance of the italian original, while seeking out an entirely natural english music. Here i want to expand that exercise, comparing 15 different translations in a more systematic way. Whats the best way to read the divine comedy if you dont know.
Of dantes many translators, three stand out as the best. It is believed that the divine comedy was written somewhere between 8. Side by side translations of the inferno dantes inferno. Read dantes inferno translated modern english translation by dante alighieri available from rakuten kobo.