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Circles of Hell
'I truly thought I'd never make it back.'
Ten of the most memorable and most terrifying cantos from Dante's Inferno.
Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321).
Dante's works available in Penguin Classics are Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, The Divine Comedy and Vita Nuova.
Ten of the most memorable and most terrifying cantos from Dante's Inferno.
Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321).
Dante's works available in Penguin Classics are Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, The Divine Comedy and Vita Nuova.
52 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1320
About the author
Dante Alighieri
3,533 books5,665 followersDante Alighieri, or simply Dante (May 14/June 13 1265 – September 13/14, 1321), is one of the greatest poets in the Italian language; with the comic story-teller, Boccaccio, and the poet, Petrarch, he forms the classic trio of Italian authors. Dante Alighieri was born in the city-state Florence in 1265. He first saw the woman, or rather the child, who was to become the poetic love of his life when he was almost nine years old and she was some months younger. In fact, Beatrice married another man, Simone di' Bardi, and died when Dante was 25, so their relationship existed almost entirely in Dante's imagination, but she nonetheless plays an extremely important role in his poetry. Dante attributed all the heavenly virtues to her soul and imagined, in his masterpiece The Divine Comedy, that she was his guardian angel who alternately berated and encouraged him on his search for salvation.
Politics as well as love deeply influenced Dante's literary and emotional life. Renaissance Florence was a thriving, but not a peaceful city: different opposing factions continually struggled for dominance there. The Guelfs and the Ghibellines were the two major factions, and in fact that division was important in all of Italy and other countries as well. The Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor were political rivals for much of this time period, and in general the Guelfs were in favor of the Pope, while the Ghibellines supported Imperial power. By 1289 in the battle of Campaldino the Ghibellines largely disappeared from Florence. Peace, however, did not insue. Instead, the Guelf party divided between the Whites and the Blacks (Dante was a White Guelf). The Whites were more opposed to Papal power than the Blacks, and tended to favor the emperor, so in fact the preoccupations of the White Guelfs were much like those of the defeated Ghibellines. In this divisive atmosphere Dante rose to a position of leadership. in 1302, while he was in Rome on a diplomatic mission to the Pope, the Blacks in Florence seized power with the help of the French (and pro-Pope) Charles of Valois. The Blacks exiled Dante, confiscating his goods and condemning him to be burned if he should return to Florence.
Dante never returned to Florence. He wandered from city to city, depending on noble patrons there. Between 1302 and 1304 some attempts were made by the exiled Whites to retrieve their position in Florence, but none of these succeeded and Dante contented himself with hoping for the appearance of a new powerful Holy Roman Emperor who would unite the country and banish strife. Henry VII was elected Emperor in 1308, and indeed laid seige to Florence in 1312, but was defeated, and he died a year later, destroying Dante's hopes. Dante passed from court to court, writing passionate political and moral epistles and finishing his Divine Comedy, which contains the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. He finally died in Ravenna in 1321.
Politics as well as love deeply influenced Dante's literary and emotional life. Renaissance Florence was a thriving, but not a peaceful city: different opposing factions continually struggled for dominance there. The Guelfs and the Ghibellines were the two major factions, and in fact that division was important in all of Italy and other countries as well. The Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor were political rivals for much of this time period, and in general the Guelfs were in favor of the Pope, while the Ghibellines supported Imperial power. By 1289 in the battle of Campaldino the Ghibellines largely disappeared from Florence. Peace, however, did not insue. Instead, the Guelf party divided between the Whites and the Blacks (Dante was a White Guelf). The Whites were more opposed to Papal power than the Blacks, and tended to favor the emperor, so in fact the preoccupations of the White Guelfs were much like those of the defeated Ghibellines. In this divisive atmosphere Dante rose to a position of leadership. in 1302, while he was in Rome on a diplomatic mission to the Pope, the Blacks in Florence seized power with the help of the French (and pro-Pope) Charles of Valois. The Blacks exiled Dante, confiscating his goods and condemning him to be burned if he should return to Florence.
Dante never returned to Florence. He wandered from city to city, depending on noble patrons there. Between 1302 and 1304 some attempts were made by the exiled Whites to retrieve their position in Florence, but none of these succeeded and Dante contented himself with hoping for the appearance of a new powerful Holy Roman Emperor who would unite the country and banish strife. Henry VII was elected Emperor in 1308, and indeed laid seige to Florence in 1312, but was defeated, and he died a year later, destroying Dante's hopes. Dante passed from court to court, writing passionate political and moral epistles and finishing his Divine Comedy, which contains the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. He finally died in Ravenna in 1321.
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February 11, 2024Still processing…
This is one of those books that feels like a punch in the face, but in a good way???
This is one of those books that feels like a punch in the face, but in a good way???
February 13, 2016
This is quite possibly the worse edition I’ve come across in this collection so far. It is simply terrible. I would avoid this completely if you’re thinking about giving the poet a try. The Divine Comedy is hard to follow at the best of times and this edition makes it even worse. I’ve started reading the full work no less than six times over the past year, and each time I’ve had to go back to the beginning out of confusion. I was due another reattempt, so I thought I’d give this edition a try; it was a big mistake.
In here are, what is quite frankly, some random cantos form the Inferno; thus it is quite difficult to retain any sense of the story. They’re random and, when isolated, are difficult to conceptualise. I think this edition is rather pointless. When I do manage to get through the work, it will be the full work. I couldn’t imagine that this would be of use to anyone; it is a poor representation of his work, and to make matters worse it sacrifices the beauty of it. Dante uses his own, unique, three line stanzas, which, on their own, are a true feat of poetry. They’re quite complex. In this edition the publishers have merely separated the stanzas with a little indent. This, for me, makes for some very poor reading and destroys part of the poem.
I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. If you, like me, want to read some of Dante’s writings, then I should suggest trying his full works.
Penguin Little Black Classic- 25
The Little Black Classic Collection by penguin looks like it contains lots of hidden gems. I couldn’t help it; they looked so good that I went and bought them all. I shall post a short review after reading each one. No doubt it will take me several months to get through all of them! Hopefully I will find some classic authors, from across the ages, that I may not have come across had I not bought this collection.
In here are, what is quite frankly, some random cantos form the Inferno; thus it is quite difficult to retain any sense of the story. They’re random and, when isolated, are difficult to conceptualise. I think this edition is rather pointless. When I do manage to get through the work, it will be the full work. I couldn’t imagine that this would be of use to anyone; it is a poor representation of his work, and to make matters worse it sacrifices the beauty of it. Dante uses his own, unique, three line stanzas, which, on their own, are a true feat of poetry. They’re quite complex. In this edition the publishers have merely separated the stanzas with a little indent. This, for me, makes for some very poor reading and destroys part of the poem.
I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. If you, like me, want to read some of Dante’s writings, then I should suggest trying his full works.
Penguin Little Black Classic- 25
The Little Black Classic Collection by penguin looks like it contains lots of hidden gems. I couldn’t help it; they looked so good that I went and bought them all. I shall post a short review after reading each one. No doubt it will take me several months to get through all of them! Hopefully I will find some classic authors, from across the ages, that I may not have come across had I not bought this collection.
August 7, 2018
"The way is long, the road is cruelly hard."
- Dante, Canto XXXIV
Vol 25 of my Penguin Little Black Classics Box Set is obviously just a selection from Inferno (book 1 of The Divine Comedy). I've read Dante's 'Divine Comedy' a couple times, and Inferno several. But I'm not nearly the fan of Dante that my brother is. He collects translations and copies of Dante's Divine Comedy, I prefer Homer. Somehow, we make it through. I liked Robin Kirkpatrick's translation, but it wasn't my favorite. Here is a sample from one of Dante's more famous lines:
from Canto III: "Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'entrate"
Longfellow (1867): "ALL HOPE ABANDON, YOU WHO ENTER IN!"
Sayers (1949): "LAY DOWN ALL HOPE, YOU THAT GO IN BY ME."
Ciardi (1954): "ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE."
Pinsky (1995): "ABANDON ALL HOPE, YOU WHO ENTER HERE."
Kirkpatrick (2006): "SURRENDER AS YOU ENTER EVERY HOPE YOU HAVE."
James (2013): "FORGET YOUR HOPES, THEY WERE WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE."
Personally, I prefer Ciardi (or Pinsky), but I appreciate what Kirkpatrick is doing. While I can't pretend to be a Dante scholar, I appreciate that Kirkpatrick really knows his stuff. Perhaps, I'm just biased with Ciardi because of the meter and language (like the KJV of the Bible) just seems natural to Dante. Anyway, this collection contains:
Canto III - Gates of Hell
Canto V - The lustful
Canto VI - The gluttonous
Canto VIII - The wrathful and the melancholic
Canto XIII - The violent against self
Canto XVII - Passage to the Eighth Circle
Canto XIX - Simonists
Canto XXIV - Thieves
Canto XXXIII - Traitors to nations and traitors to guests
Canto XXXIV - Traitors to benefactors
- Dante, Canto XXXIV
Vol 25 of my Penguin Little Black Classics Box Set is obviously just a selection from Inferno (book 1 of The Divine Comedy). I've read Dante's 'Divine Comedy' a couple times, and Inferno several. But I'm not nearly the fan of Dante that my brother is. He collects translations and copies of Dante's Divine Comedy, I prefer Homer. Somehow, we make it through. I liked Robin Kirkpatrick's translation, but it wasn't my favorite. Here is a sample from one of Dante's more famous lines:
from Canto III: "Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'entrate"
Longfellow (1867): "ALL HOPE ABANDON, YOU WHO ENTER IN!"
Sayers (1949): "LAY DOWN ALL HOPE, YOU THAT GO IN BY ME."
Ciardi (1954): "ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE."
Pinsky (1995): "ABANDON ALL HOPE, YOU WHO ENTER HERE."
Kirkpatrick (2006): "SURRENDER AS YOU ENTER EVERY HOPE YOU HAVE."
James (2013): "FORGET YOUR HOPES, THEY WERE WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE."
Personally, I prefer Ciardi (or Pinsky), but I appreciate what Kirkpatrick is doing. While I can't pretend to be a Dante scholar, I appreciate that Kirkpatrick really knows his stuff. Perhaps, I'm just biased with Ciardi because of the meter and language (like the KJV of the Bible) just seems natural to Dante. Anyway, this collection contains:
Canto III - Gates of Hell
Canto V - The lustful
Canto VI - The gluttonous
Canto VIII - The wrathful and the melancholic
Canto XIII - The violent against self
Canto XVII - Passage to the Eighth Circle
Canto XIX - Simonists
Canto XXIV - Thieves
Canto XXXIII - Traitors to nations and traitors to guests
Canto XXXIV - Traitors to benefactors
July 3, 2017
What would it be like to literally go to Hell and back? Ask Dante Alighieri. But don't go for the Little Black Classic, because it might make you just as upset as it made me. Circles of Hell features ten cantos taken from the medieval Italian epic Inferno. In it, we follow a pilgrim making his journey through the nine circles of Hell, each with their own inhabitants and sins.
I have not read Inferno, which made this a horrible starting point (thus my rating). It's obviously just supposed to be a taster and it did make me want to read the whole thing, but without an introduction and no explanation of why these featured cantos have been chosen, especially since we're skipping big chunks of the pilgrimage between each, it all felt a bit out of context. With limited knowledge of the 13th century Italy there is only so much I could take away from these.
I did get was a sense of how brilliant the text in its entirety probably is. I love the idea of Hell being divided into circles and the pilgrim getting the Roman poet Virgil as a tour-guide. The writing is probably more beautiful in its original language, but it's still poetic and vivid. It's creepy and still not without humour. The second circle for example is inhabited by people who were overcome by lust and they are punished by being blown back and forth by a storm, preventing them to fall for their sin again. Among the people he meets there are Cleopatra and Helen of Troy.
The pilgrim actually meets many historical and notable personalities in hell, many of which were contemporaries, which is why it would have been nice to have some annotations here and there, as I assume the average reader (me!) isn't able to recognise the names of medieval politicians of Italy and I don't really like having to look up names every couple of pages just to escape the meaninglessness.
This particular book wasn't fun to read, but it did make me curious about the full-length piece of work (even though I will probably look out for an annotated version).
In 2015 Penguin introduced the Little Black Classics series to celebrate Penguin's 80th birthday. Including little stories from "around the world and across many centuries" as the publisher describes, I have been intrigued to read those for a long time, before finally having started. I hope to sooner or later read and review all of them!
I have not read Inferno, which made this a horrible starting point (thus my rating). It's obviously just supposed to be a taster and it did make me want to read the whole thing, but without an introduction and no explanation of why these featured cantos have been chosen, especially since we're skipping big chunks of the pilgrimage between each, it all felt a bit out of context. With limited knowledge of the 13th century Italy there is only so much I could take away from these.
I did get was a sense of how brilliant the text in its entirety probably is. I love the idea of Hell being divided into circles and the pilgrim getting the Roman poet Virgil as a tour-guide. The writing is probably more beautiful in its original language, but it's still poetic and vivid. It's creepy and still not without humour. The second circle for example is inhabited by people who were overcome by lust and they are punished by being blown back and forth by a storm, preventing them to fall for their sin again. Among the people he meets there are Cleopatra and Helen of Troy.
The pilgrim actually meets many historical and notable personalities in hell, many of which were contemporaries, which is why it would have been nice to have some annotations here and there, as I assume the average reader (me!) isn't able to recognise the names of medieval politicians of Italy and I don't really like having to look up names every couple of pages just to escape the meaninglessness.
This particular book wasn't fun to read, but it did make me curious about the full-length piece of work (even though I will probably look out for an annotated version).
In 2015 Penguin introduced the Little Black Classics series to celebrate Penguin's 80th birthday. Including little stories from "around the world and across many centuries" as the publisher describes, I have been intrigued to read those for a long time, before finally having started. I hope to sooner or later read and review all of them!
January 19, 2023
started good but then got bad. nothing more to say really.
also i was in hell while reading this.. outside in an Australian summer.
also i was in hell while reading this.. outside in an Australian summer.
February 17, 2016
Poor translation, poor layout. Compared this edition against the proper full edition and came to the following conclusion: hack job!
Now usually I will admit that I have read very little poetry with the exception of the superb John Betjeman and would give at least four stars for its quality. This however is dire this is contains a more modern turn of phrase.
In summery Robin Kirkpatrick is a shoddy translator who should consider the words more carefully, a few more years studying the Italian language is in order here.
NOT RECOMMENDED IN ANY WAY.
Now usually I will admit that I have read very little poetry with the exception of the superb John Betjeman and would give at least four stars for its quality. This however is dire this is contains a more modern turn of phrase.
In summery Robin Kirkpatrick is a shoddy translator who should consider the words more carefully, a few more years studying the Italian language is in order here.
NOT RECOMMENDED IN ANY WAY.
January 18, 2021
This was an interesting read. I read it as a piece of classical literature but also as a religious text. It tells of Dante walking through the nine circles of Hell with the poet Virgil guiding him. The language was very complex and I struggled to find the meaning several times but the overall concept is that people are judged differently depending on their sins and each go to a different circle of hell, receiving a different punishment. I enjoyed analysing this text and found it an intriguing experience.
April 15, 2015
It was hard going until I started reading it out loud and then it naturally fell into a wonderful rhythm.
October 29, 2021
Although this is extractions from the original text i still felt it packs a good punch. Poetry sadly is not my biggest interest but i feel the amount of imagery provided and the way it consumes a mind with the idea of hell amazing. Each part is so in depth but short it is more than enough to get an idea of what you may expect from the full text. The bible mixed with a grim version of a Chrismas Carol style with a touch of the master and Margerita. This is how i pictured it. Very much enjoyed
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December 13, 2023Idk I don't think self insert fanfics are for me
July 26, 2020
Read all my reviews on https://urlphantomhive.wordpress.com
I bought a copy of the full Divine Comedy a couple of years ago, but have so far been holding out on reading it as I foresee another multiyear project to finish it. Circles of Hell - some snippets from the more sinister part of the collection looked like it could give me a taste of what could be found in the full edition.
Unfortunately, although they were little tastes (some cantos from the Hell part) they made little sense on their own. Maybe it would have been better to make a closer fitting collection that would form slightly more a story on its own. As such, this contained very little.
~Little Black Classics #25~
I bought a copy of the full Divine Comedy a couple of years ago, but have so far been holding out on reading it as I foresee another multiyear project to finish it. Circles of Hell - some snippets from the more sinister part of the collection looked like it could give me a taste of what could be found in the full edition.
Unfortunately, although they were little tastes (some cantos from the Hell part) they made little sense on their own. Maybe it would have been better to make a closer fitting collection that would form slightly more a story on its own. As such, this contained very little.
~Little Black Classics #25~
February 24, 2019
The PS3 Game version of The Divine comedy (named Dante's Inferno) was the first time I ever heard of Dante Alighieri or the Circles of Hell. Ever since playing that game years ago I have been hooked on Dante. Circles of Hell gives the reader the "best bits" of The Divine Comedy and cuts out the chaff and extraneous detail (if that be your type of thing) as there is a lot of it.
I, however, adore detail and tedium in my reading but that did not stop me from loving these little snippets of horror.
I only wish there where more delightful little chunks of gore in this book as it ended to quickly for my liking knocked it down a star.
Would and will recommend to all, a MUST READ for horror, fan fiction, religious literature and history fans!
4/5
I, however, adore detail and tedium in my reading but that did not stop me from loving these little snippets of horror.
I only wish there where more delightful little chunks of gore in this book as it ended to quickly for my liking knocked it down a star.
Would and will recommend to all, a MUST READ for horror, fan fiction, religious literature and history fans!
4/5
May 16, 2021
It was actually pretty good. I struggle with poetry a lot of the time (but I have been trying to read a lot more of it lately) and epic poetry is normally even worse for me, but this was actually pretty easy to follow. I have the full version of Inferno at home so I might tackle that soon... it doesn't seem so scary any more
March 15, 2023
foi nice mas não recomendo ler m inglês
August 19, 2023
i do not recommend reading this edition as it is basically just extracts from Dante’s Inferno and without the whole story and the context it is quite difficult to understand, have a clear perspective on the story and ,,enjoy” it.
June 19, 2020
I didn't hate it and I didn't like it. The selection this book has made is so random. It feels really choppy. It would be the same if I chopped Beowulf in parts.
I do think that I would enjoy the complete work of Dante.
I do think that I would enjoy the complete work of Dante.
October 13, 2024
"I truly thought I'd never make it back."
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January 8, 2016
Dante Alighieri was a 13th-14th Century Italian Poet and Statesman. The Divine Comedy depicts Dante's own journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise, guided by the Roman Poet Virgil. Fully titled Divina Commedia, it is split in to the sections; Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso.
This Little Black Classic is the prefect place to start if you wish to discover whether Dante is right for you. It features a selection of Cantos (verses in a poem) taken from Inferno, the passage that Dante takes through the nine circles of Hell. It features degrading, desolate and destitute imagery of all those who have fallen and left Earth to burn for eternity in damnation.
Beautifully written as most of these LBCs are, there is probably no piece of work that has so captivated and influenced writers so much as Dante's Divina Commedia.
This Little Black Classic is the prefect place to start if you wish to discover whether Dante is right for you. It features a selection of Cantos (verses in a poem) taken from Inferno, the passage that Dante takes through the nine circles of Hell. It features degrading, desolate and destitute imagery of all those who have fallen and left Earth to burn for eternity in damnation.
Beautifully written as most of these LBCs are, there is probably no piece of work that has so captivated and influenced writers so much as Dante's Divina Commedia.
July 20, 2018
With this review im not commenting on the whole of Dante’s Inferno, just the extracts concerning this book.
I found the prose beautiful, better than the likes of Shakespear. That of course bears the element that I did not understand 50% of what was going on, because true understanding required a careful dissection of the stanzas. It was simply the construction of the the line with elaborate adjectives and similes, that sketched a horrifying portrayal of hell. “together these all stirred a storm that swirled for ever in the darkened air where no time was, as sand swept up in breathing spires of wind.” .
The loss of the other two stars is due to the poor publication of an incoherent series of extracts. That fail to enlighten the reader with any background, and thus making the book harder to understand.
I found the prose beautiful, better than the likes of Shakespear. That of course bears the element that I did not understand 50% of what was going on, because true understanding required a careful dissection of the stanzas. It was simply the construction of the the line with elaborate adjectives and similes, that sketched a horrifying portrayal of hell. “together these all stirred a storm that swirled for ever in the darkened air where no time was, as sand swept up in breathing spires of wind.” .
The loss of the other two stars is due to the poor publication of an incoherent series of extracts. That fail to enlighten the reader with any background, and thus making the book harder to understand.
July 8, 2015
idk.
June 26, 2018
My favorite part of Dante’s famous descend through Hell and Purgatory, and subequent ascend to the Heavenly spheres has always been the first third: the cantos about the nince circles of Hell. Therefore, I pretty much knew I would like this book a lot and I would probably have given it a much better rating if it hadn’t been composed of seemingly random selections of the admittedly long section. The intigrate structure of Hell and the horrifically creative punishments are oddly captivating and this version lacks a more coherent description found in the original. I really think you should pick up the full work instead even if it is long. Because it makes so much more sense. Ive read the full work two or three times for different courses in college over the last five years and that’s pretty much why I was able to follow this book as too many chunks were missing.
February 12, 2021
I love creative depictions of hell and I was hoping that this would be the book-version of Bosch's paintings. It kind of was, but I feel like I would have benefited from some SparkNotes because I was very confused at times. It might also help to read the whole work instead of snippets from it. I genuinely enjoyed it when I understood what was going on, though, especially the chapter where some poor sinners have to be trees for the rest of eternity.
Best sentence:
"'I,' he replied, 'am Brother Alberigo, I of the Evil Orchard, Fruiterer.'"
And he is in the last circle? This fruiterer must have done some bad shit.
I think I'm gonna do some research and maybe read it again because I feel like it would be really enjoyable if you know what's going on, but it was sadly a bit too patchy of a reading experience this time to give it more than three stars.
Edit: Apparently Alberigo murdered his brother and nephew during a banquet he had at his house, and the order to bring fruit to the party was the signal for the murder. This is some Borgia stuff and we love it
Best sentence:
"'I,' he replied, 'am Brother Alberigo, I of the Evil Orchard, Fruiterer.'"
And he is in the last circle? This fruiterer must have done some bad shit.
I think I'm gonna do some research and maybe read it again because I feel like it would be really enjoyable if you know what's going on, but it was sadly a bit too patchy of a reading experience this time to give it more than three stars.
Edit: Apparently Alberigo murdered his brother and nephew during a banquet he had at his house, and the order to bring fruit to the party was the signal for the murder. This is some Borgia stuff and we love it
January 9, 2018
I feel I really ought to read more of Inferno than the bits that are found in this book before passing judgement, however, this is amazing! I am very tempted to read it over the summer but I'd have to try and find a copy by the same translator- it's so readable!
The description is awesome (if a bit gory....). I couldn't help but compare it to The Road (studying it for coursework). The only reason that it's not 5 stars is that, because it's bits taken from another book, it got a bit confusing as there are mentions of characters etc that seem to pop up out of nowhere.
The description is awesome (if a bit gory....). I couldn't help but compare it to The Road (studying it for coursework). The only reason that it's not 5 stars is that, because it's bits taken from another book, it got a bit confusing as there are mentions of characters etc that seem to pop up out of nowhere.
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December 24, 2023pomimo tego że nie zrozumialam co czwartego słowa to i tak doceniem, że dante napisal ten wspaniały fanfik o tym jak jego crush (który jest poetą który żył jakiejś 1300 lat przed dante) oprowadza go po piekle
March 13, 2024
i don't really get why it's that big of a deal
September 12, 2015
I like this. The language is so rich and powerful but being only a few excerpts of the book takes a lot out of the story. So I guess now I have to pick Inferno and read it all
April 6, 2015
Adored this, I plan to get a full translation now. This has completely got me addicted.
June 18, 2023
"how hard you are if, thinking what my heart foretold, you do not feel the pain of it. whatever will you weep for, if not that?"
"how many, in the world above, pose there as kings but here will lie like pigs in muck."
"my own face now- a callus in the chill- had ceased to be a throne to any kind of sentiment. and yet inspite of it all, it seemed i felt a wind stirring here."
wonderfully written poetry, depicting the nine circles of hell. it was interesting observe many similarities between the concept of hell and heaven to those of different religions. 'twas relatively easy to read except there was so many allegories for me to understand so i'd definitely reread it sometime. thank you charo jigs for the book :^)☆
"how many, in the world above, pose there as kings but here will lie like pigs in muck."
"my own face now- a callus in the chill- had ceased to be a throne to any kind of sentiment. and yet inspite of it all, it seemed i felt a wind stirring here."
wonderfully written poetry, depicting the nine circles of hell. it was interesting observe many similarities between the concept of hell and heaven to those of different religions. 'twas relatively easy to read except there was so many allegories for me to understand so i'd definitely reread it sometime. thank you charo jigs for the book :^)☆
June 6, 2024
After doing all of Dante about a year ago, this small collection of randomly pulled Cantos left me itching for the whole thing again. I was more impressed by Dante’s imagining of the Paradiso and Purgatorio than his Inferno, but it seems that the unique tortures are the most fascinating for most people.
Dante’s Commedia makes good reading for anyone who wants to understand the historical evolution about ideas of heaven and hell. Many of our ideas about eternal torture and red devils with wings and pointy tails comes from or was concreted in history by Dante.
This somewhat random collection doesn’t do much justice to the whole work, but it might give you a good idea of whether you can appreciate the whole work. I find his interactions with damned people famous in his own context fascinating, but his creative conceptions of purgatory and heaven are too often overlooked.
Dante’s Commedia makes good reading for anyone who wants to understand the historical evolution about ideas of heaven and hell. Many of our ideas about eternal torture and red devils with wings and pointy tails comes from or was concreted in history by Dante.
This somewhat random collection doesn’t do much justice to the whole work, but it might give you a good idea of whether you can appreciate the whole work. I find his interactions with damned people famous in his own context fascinating, but his creative conceptions of purgatory and heaven are too often overlooked.
October 21, 2023
Book's Summary:-
This collection from Penguin Little Black Classics translated by Robin Kirkpatrick takes you on a journey through Dante's iconic work, "The Divine Comedy," specifically focusing on the harrowing depiction of Hell.
Dante vividly describes the nine circles of Hell, each representing different sins and their corresponding punishments. From encountering infamous historical figures to witnessing the consequences of moral transgressions, readers are immersed in a world that explores the complexities of sin, redemption, and divine justice.
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Verdict:-
Both the Robin Kirkpatrick's translation and layout are subpar. After contrasting this edition with the correct full edition, it was determined that the latter is superior than the former.
This edition seems to simply have a few excerpts that were pulled from the entire version to give you a taste of what's in store. But regrettably, it was a complete downfall and failed miserably to make sense. Everything seemed out of place. Perhaps a more cohesive collection that stood alone as a little story would have been a great idea rather than this.
P.s:- On a brighter note, having read this collection, I felt compelled to read the appropriate full edition.
This collection from Penguin Little Black Classics translated by Robin Kirkpatrick takes you on a journey through Dante's iconic work, "The Divine Comedy," specifically focusing on the harrowing depiction of Hell.
Dante vividly describes the nine circles of Hell, each representing different sins and their corresponding punishments. From encountering infamous historical figures to witnessing the consequences of moral transgressions, readers are immersed in a world that explores the complexities of sin, redemption, and divine justice.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Verdict:-
Both the Robin Kirkpatrick's translation and layout are subpar. After contrasting this edition with the correct full edition, it was determined that the latter is superior than the former.
This edition seems to simply have a few excerpts that were pulled from the entire version to give you a taste of what's in store. But regrettably, it was a complete downfall and failed miserably to make sense. Everything seemed out of place. Perhaps a more cohesive collection that stood alone as a little story would have been a great idea rather than this.
P.s:- On a brighter note, having read this collection, I felt compelled to read the appropriate full edition.
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