In dantes time, and for a few centuries afterward, readers of poetry. Every new translation of the divine comedy, though in itself a fresh tribute. The medieval equivalent of a thriller, inferno follows dante and his faithful guide, virgil, as they traverse the. A new translation when dante originally wrote the inferno, he did so in the vernacular, not in the literary latin. Which is the best englishlanguage translation of dante. Fifteen translations of dante compared boisterous beholding. Inferno full audiobook greatest audiobooks by dante alighieri 126521. The power of dantes descriptive poetry should be apparent, and that is perhaps the highest compliment one can pay a translator. Heres where youll find analysis of the poem as a whole, from themes and symbols to key facts. Ive heard pinskys translation of the inferno is really good. An anthology of dantes inferno in english translation 17822017 dante alighieri 126521 maintained that translation destroys the harmony of poetry. 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. Dante s inferno translated download ebook pdf, epub. Inferno, esolen translation by dante dante, 9780345483577, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook.
Dantes divine comedy is considered to be not only the most important epic poem in italian literature, but also one of the greatest poems ever written. 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 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. 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. Pdf inferno book by dante alighieri free download 490. Dante alighieri 126521, scion of a florentine family, mastered in the art of lyric poetry at an early age. Free download or read online inferno pdf epub book.
With this major new translation, anthony esolen has succeeded brilliantly in marrying sense with sound, poetry with meaning, capturing both the poems linebyline vigor and its allegorically and philosophically exacting structure, yielding an inferno that will be as popular with general readers as with teachers and students. To supplement this reading of dantes inferno, listen to the sparknotes guide to dantes inferno. 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. This enthralling new translation of dantes inferno immediately joins ranks with the very best richard lansing. At last count, onehundred and twentynine different translators have published at least one canticle of the italian masterwork since the first in 1782, and countless more have. Clive james takes on a verse translation of dantes divine comedy. So many translations have been done that the goal of this book seems to me not to be to attempt another inferno of syntax thats become standardised, but to introduce dante to the world of contemporary poetry by meshing the classic with the eclectic array of poets in this book.
Translation of dantes inferno, canto i and poetry by j. As edward hirsch wrote in the new yorker, robert pinskys translation is fastpaced, idiomatic, and accurate. The first edition of the novel was published in 20, and was written by dante alighieri. Traveling through a dark wood, dante alighieri has lost his path and now wanders fearfully through the forest. It includes the arguments prefixed to the cantos by the rev. A new complete downloadable english translation with comprehensive index and. Here i want to expand that exercise, comparing 15 different translations in a more systematic way. The inferno of dante audiobook by dante alighieri, robert. The divine comedy by dante, translated by clive james. This penguin classics edition is translated and edited with an introduction and notes by robin kirkpatrick. As far as serious, professional literary translation goes, mary jo bangs inferno tests the boundaries of acceptability. In the poem, hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the earth. An extraordinary new verse translation of dantes masterpiece, by poet, scholar, and lauded translator anthony esolen of the great poets, dante is one of the most elusive and therefore one of the most difficult to adequately render into english verse. The authoritative translations of the inferno, the purgatorio, and the paradisotogether in one volume.
The best books on dante five books expert recommendations. Each section is 33 cantos in length, and they describe how dante and a guide travel through inferno, purgatorio, and paradiso. Dantes immortal vision of hell shines as it never did before in english verse edward mendelson in clive jamess new translation of inferno the most captivating part of perhaps the greatest epic poem ever written, dantes inferno still holds the power to thrill and inspire. Through the depths of hell in the inferno, and upwards along the mountain of purgatory in the purgatorio, dante is guided by virgil, the great poet of the classical roman empire, exploring, as he does so, the political, ethical and religious issues of his time. That book was a galeotto, a pandar, and he who wrote it. To supplement this reading of dante s inferno, listen to the sparknotes guide to dante s inferno. Jul 22, 20 for, as clive james notes in his excellent introduction to his translation, for an italian poet, its not rhyming thats hard. Very readable translation, though done in prose not poetic style. Smith and sonzogni have assembled and annotated two complete translations of dantes most popular canticle, inferno.
See a complete list of the characters in inferno and indepth analyses of dante alighieri and virgil. In this vivid verse translation into contemporary english, peter thornton makes the classic work fresh again for a new generation of readers. One of the worlds 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. This translation of dantes lyrics follows the barbi format and. Inferno, the most popular and widely studied section of the divine comedy, recounts dantes travels through the different regions of hell, led by his mentor and protector, the roman poet virgil.
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. As he descends through nine concentric circles of increasingly agonising. When i saw him, in the great emptiness, i cried out to him have pity on me, whoever you are, whether a man, in truth, or a shadow. His new translation of dantes inferno with a foreword on the poet and the poem. Dantes inferno, canto i poem by dante alighieri translation by j. Inferno opens on the evening of good friday in the year 0. I was a poet, and sang of aeneas, that virtuous son of anchises, who came. Simon harris in terza rima in the middle of the journey of our life i found myself again in a dark forest, for i had lost the pathway straight and right. Bang contends that since dante paid homage to poets and figures who meant something to him. See a complete list of the characters in inferno and in depth analyses of dante alighieri and virgil. It consists of 100 cantos, and after an introductory canto they are divided into three sections.
Dante s inferno translated download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. This instinct is taken to new levels in bangs translationwhere her idiomatic, contemporary diction includes allusions to popular television shows, poets, musicians, philosophers, and other familiar cultural references. Yet his commedia has been translated into english time and again over the last twoandabit centuries. Translations by 20 contemporary poets 9780880012911. I have a number of translations of dantes the divine comedy in my home among them the translations of charles singleton, dorothy l. Washington timesin this new rendition of a timeless classic, italian scholar elio zappulla captures the majesty and enduring power of the inferno, the first of the three canticles of dantes the. Imagine a contemporary translation of dante that includes references to pink floyd, south park, donald rumsfeld, and star trek. Inferno is an epic poem by dante alighieri that was first published in 21.
Favorite 1 fan translation find a translation for this poem in other languages. In these meditations on dantes divine comedy the author provides a companion volume to his translation of the great work itself, guiding the reader step by step through the complexities of the commedia. Read an overview of the entire poem or a line by line summary and analysis. Inferno, esolen translation dante dante download free. The divine comedy changed my life, and it may do the same to you. To hell and back is a celebration of the art and craft of poetry translation. Dantes great poem has everything in it, and mary jos inferno does too. Aimed not just at the student but also at those who, impressed by its poetry and beauty, simply wish to delve deeper into the meaning and.
Dante alighieri 126521 maintained that translation destroys the harmony of poetry. Dante alighieri was born in florence, italy in 1265. Poet and essayist robert pinskys translation captures the intensity and passion of the literary masterpiece, and worldrenowned actor john cleese contributes a profound and electrifying performance. Im yet to read purgatory and paradise, but in my honest view, i doubt if any other poetic work can surpass dantes divine comedy. 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. 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. Buy a cheap copy of inferno book by dante alighieri. Each one was tearing at her breast with her claws, beating with her hands, and crying out so loudly, that i pressed close to the poet, out of fear.
No wonder that dantes latest translator, the eminent australian poet and. Dante in his own life, and in this epic, represents a party of one, desirous of purifying the church on the one hand, and the holy roman empire on the other, yet caught between those two great worldly powers, and turning to. Belonging in the immortal company of the great works of literature, dante alighieris poetic masterpiece, the divine comedy, is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of hell, up the arduous slopes of purgatory, and on to the glorious realm. In your third book, dante in english 2005, griffiths and reynolds present the influence of dante through other artists work. Belonging in the immortal company of the great works of literature, dante alighieris poetic masterpiece, the divine comedy, is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of hell, up the arduous slopes of purgatory, and on to the. The annotations are particularly helpful and add immeasurably to the value of the work. What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, which in the very thought renews the fear. Canto i one night, when half my life behind me lay, i wandered from the straight lost path afar. Dantes inferno dantes inferno the divine comedy of dante alighieri translated by henry wadsworth longfellow volume 1 this is all of longfellows dante translation of inferno minus the illustrations. Buy inferno translation, bilingual by dante, hollander, robert, hollander, jean isbn. One of the worlds transcendent literary masterpieces, the inferno tells the timeless story of dantes journey through the nine circles of hell, guided by the poet virgil, when in midlife he strays from his path in a dark wood. Ah how hard it is to describe, this forest savage and rough and overwhelming, for to think of it renews my fear before it. For, as clive james notes in his excellent introduction to his translation, for an italian poet, its not rhyming thats hard. Mary jo bangs inferno is an astute and subtle reading of dante that brilliantly reflects the inexhaustible capaciousness of the divine comedy.
In his translation of inferno, mark musa writes, dante invites us to read his poem as he expects us to read the bible, that is, to believe in the. Describing dantes descent into hell midway through his life with virgil as a guide. The divine comedy, book one ebook written by dante alighieri. This edition of the inferno revives the famous henry wadsworth longfellow translation, which first introduced dantes literary genius to a broad american audience. In the middle of the journey of our life, i came to myself, in a dark wood, where the direct way was lost. A new complete downloadable english translation with comprehensive index. Inferno english by dante alighieri canto i one night, when half my life behind me lay, i wandered from the straight lost path afar. The inferno tells the journey of dante through hell, guided by the ancient roman poet virgil.
Dantes divine comedy, translated by clive james the new york. Italian for hell is the first part of italian writer dante alighieris 14thcentury epic poem divine comedy. There were at least 50 english translations of the inferno in the 20th century alone, and now we have another, by. But perhaps the most neglected one is the battered volumes i found on ebay. Her accurate, deeply pondered translation translates carries over dante into her own world, and ours. Dante s 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. Inferno is dantes experience in walking through hell. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read dantes inferno. It is a hard thing to speak of, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood was, so that thinking of it recreates the fear.
Inferno, canto i by dante alighieri poems academy of. Theyre concerned with dantes impact on the englishspeaking world, giving us a substantial sampling of translation and imitation in english poetry from the middle ages through to the present. 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. Dec 21, 2002 the inferno of dante alighieri translated by ciaran carson 296pp, granta. Apr 04, 20 discover dante s original inferno in this modern and acclaimed penguin translation. His early poetry falls into the tradition of love poetry that passed from the provencal to such italian poets as guido cavalcanti, dantes friend and mentor. The inferno, part one of dantes epic poem, the divine comedy, is the most imaginative and lyrical poetry i have read so far in my life.
The inferno of dante alighieri translated by ciaran. Theyre concerned with dante s impact on the englishspeaking world, giving us a substantial sampling of translation and imitation in english poetry from the middle ages through to the present. Eileen myles, the poetry foundations harriet blog mary jo bangs new translation of dantes inferno restores meaning to that old bookblurb cliche, startlingly original. Pdf inferno book by dante alighieri free download 490 pages.
Im no dante expert that sounds like i dont know anything about art, but. The terza rima, which is dante s basic unit for the poem, transfers. 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. Opting for unrhymed blank verse, the translator succeeds in capturing the poet s 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 unduly creative. While i was returning to the depths, one appeared, in front of my eyes, who seemed hoarse from long silence. Difficulty and dead poetry by robin kirkpatrick 2008 written in the accessible language of interpretative criticism, this study argues that dantes thinking and poetry are subject to far greater internal tension than is commonly supposed. The divine comedy is a long italian narrative poem by dante alighieri.
Describing dantes 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. I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 490 pages and is available in paperback format. Discover dantes original inferno in this modern and acclaimed penguin translation. Belonging in the company of the works of homer and virgil, the inferno is a moving human drama, a journey through the torment of hell, an expression of the middle. Just how far afield from the original text the translator may venture yet still be found to be arguably holding true to the original is relentlessly challenged. The sun shines down on a mountain above him, and he attempts to climb up to it but finds his way blocked by three beastsa leopard, a lion, and a shewolf. This enthralling new translation of dante s inferno immediately joins ranks with the very best richard lansing. Home english poetry classic books dantes inferno introduction. The main characters of this classics, poetry story are virgilio, odysseus.
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