Sign in with Facebook
Matthew's Reviews > The Divine Comedy: Inferno
The Divine Comedy: Inferno
by
by
Matthew's review
bookshelves: 2020, completist-book-club, audible, audio, own, classic, spiritual
Nov 10, 2020
bookshelves: 2020, completist-book-club, audible, audio, own, classic, spiritual
I did not expect Dante’s Inferno to be easy, but it was not as hard as I expected it to be.
In order to make sure that I gave it my all, over the course of about 40 days I listened to it twice, had a physical copy that I skimmed and referenced, looked at online study guides, and discussed with some of my Goodreads friends. While I still feel there is more here to be learned and grasped due to all the symbolism and word craft used by Dante, I feel like I at least got a good feel for it in my Divine Comedy rookie status.
During my time with it, I probably looked at three or four different translations. Some of them seemed to be a bit more termed for the layman, but with others you could better see the poetry of Dante. I suppose to really get a feel for how Dante intended it I would need learn Italian (Tuscan Italian to be specific – according to Wikipedia). If you decide to give it a go, I think it may be best to not just settle on one translation but be flexible and try out a few to see which one gives you the best experience.
As I mentioned in my introductory sentence, it was not as hard as I expected it to be. I thought going in that I would be totally confused, and it would be hard to stay focused. But the narrative was enjoyable and not to hard to follow. It was the poetry and the symbolism that makes this one a bit more complex. So many different elements of mythology, literary history, religion, and world history are referenced that it kept my brain on its toes. I mentioned that this felt like an introductory experience because I could probably go back and spend hours on each Canto researching all the things referenced.
While it was a bit of a labor, I am pleased with my overall experience with Inferno and I will likely give the rest of the Divine Comedy a look sometime in the future.
In order to make sure that I gave it my all, over the course of about 40 days I listened to it twice, had a physical copy that I skimmed and referenced, looked at online study guides, and discussed with some of my Goodreads friends. While I still feel there is more here to be learned and grasped due to all the symbolism and word craft used by Dante, I feel like I at least got a good feel for it in my Divine Comedy rookie status.
During my time with it, I probably looked at three or four different translations. Some of them seemed to be a bit more termed for the layman, but with others you could better see the poetry of Dante. I suppose to really get a feel for how Dante intended it I would need learn Italian (Tuscan Italian to be specific – according to Wikipedia). If you decide to give it a go, I think it may be best to not just settle on one translation but be flexible and try out a few to see which one gives you the best experience.
As I mentioned in my introductory sentence, it was not as hard as I expected it to be. I thought going in that I would be totally confused, and it would be hard to stay focused. But the narrative was enjoyable and not to hard to follow. It was the poetry and the symbolism that makes this one a bit more complex. So many different elements of mythology, literary history, religion, and world history are referenced that it kept my brain on its toes. I mentioned that this felt like an introductory experience because I could probably go back and spend hours on each Canto researching all the things referenced.
While it was a bit of a labor, I am pleased with my overall experience with Inferno and I will likely give the rest of the Divine Comedy a look sometime in the future.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
The Divine Comedy.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
October 3, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 3, 2020
– Shelved
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
2020
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
completist-book-club
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
audio
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
audible
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
own
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
classic
October 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
spiritual
November 8, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Albert
(new)
Nov 10, 2020 11:04PM
Congratulations! This is a big accomplishment.
reply
|
flag
Wow! You went all in. Someday I need to do this. Today is not that day.
Kandice wrote: "Wow! You went all in. Someday I need to do this. Today is not that day."Thank, Albert! I feel like I will feel really accomplished once I finish the whole Divine Comedy. For now, it feels good to take that first step!
Wonderful. It’s my favorite book. Ok, I’m Italian ..... Anyway, I strongly suggest you read Purgatorio and Paradiso as well. Only in that context does Inferno fully make sense.
Well done, Matthew! I applaud you!!I've studied Dante's Comedy at university and I know how many layers there are in it! :)
It's a pity that you're not speaking Italian, since Roberto Benigni (a famous Italian actor and great scholar of Dante's work) gave several readings that just gave life to Comedy since he has a true Tuscany diction! Listening to him reading Dante is a superbe experience!
Kandice wrote: "Wow! You went all in. Someday I need to do this. Today is not that day."Yes - as soon as I started, I realized this one needed some extra review and thought. I will say that after the first reading I could have been done, but something - just a weird little itch - kept sending me back for more. Good luck when your day comes, Candice! 😃😃😃
Tom LA wrote: "Wonderful. It’s my favorite book. Ok, I’m Italian ..... Anyway, I strongly suggest you read Purgatorio and Paradiso as well. Only in that context does Inferno fully make sense."I hope to do someday - maybe sooner than later! So, are you an Italian speaker and therefore had a chance to read it in original Italian? If so - extra cool! :)
Pat wrote: "Very brave committing to this!"My group picked it, so I had to finally take it on! :)
Mei wrote: "Well done, Matthew! I applaud you!!I've studied Dante's Comedy at university and I know how many layers there are in it! :)
It's a pity that you're not speaking Italian, since Roberto Benigni (a f..."
Thanks, Mei! So, you speak Italian? Looks like I have all of my Italian speaking Goodreads friends coming out of the woodwork for this review! 😁
Maybe I should listen to it even if I don't understand it. I have done that with Italian opera before.
Yes, Matthew, I speak Italian and live in Italy! :)And reading La Divina Commedia will pull out all your Italian friends!
You could try to listen to Benigni... maybe you could enjoy it even without understanding because he's really funny and he also mimics some moemnts... Try it and let me know!
Did someone say Divina Commedia? I'm Italian too ahahah it's a true masterpiece. As I prefer to read in english when books are originally written in that language, la Commedia is a completely different experience in its original one (although we don't have a signed copy so there are many, many different versions, it's worth a lifetime's study).
For example, I just read Jane Eyre in english for the first time and I'm mesmerized by the force of Charlotte's writing! Knowing the exact choice of words of the author gives so much more meaning. Still, for the Comedy we don't always have the luxury of the exact word certainty but for the main parts we do.
And I second the Benigni reading. It's just amazing.
Mei wrote: "Yes, Matthew, I speak Italian and live in Italy! :)And reading La Divina Commedia will pull out all your Italian friends!
You could try to listen to Benigni... maybe you could enjoy it even without understanding because he's really funny and he also mimics some moemnts... Try it and let me know!"
Now that I think about it, I think we have discussed you being in Italy early on in our Goodreads friendship! You write in English better than most native English speakers, so without looking at your profile and seeing you are in Italy, it is hard to tell! :)
Now the question is . . . will the Benigni narration be easy for me to find without spending and arm and a leg!?
Fabitha wrote: "Did someone say Divina Commedia? I'm Italian too ahahah it's a true masterpiece. As I prefer to read in english when books are originally written in that language, la Commedia is a completely diff..."
More Italians! I now know that if I need an Italian I can just run out in the street and yell "Divina Commedia" and they will come running! :)
Great thoughts about word choice. It is especially interesting when looking at multiple translations. Why did this translator pick this word over the other. If I recall, the highest recommendation for translations of Homer's works are done by Robert Fitzgerald. I guess the exp00erts decided he has the best word choice!
More for Benigni . . . I will pursue!
Yes! You need to follow it through! The entire arc is beautiful as a whole!
Matthew wrote: "Now that I think about it, I think we have discussed you being in Italy early on in our Goodreads friendship! You write in English better than most native English speakers, so without looking at your profile and seeing you are in Italy, it is hard to tell! :)Now the question is . . . will the Benigni narration be easy for me to find without spending and arm and a leg!?"
WOW, thank you so much, Matthew!!! I'm humbled! *blush*
As for Benigni, it will not cost you anything: there're a lot of his reading on Youtube! Just search for "Benigni legge Dante" ;-)
Ashley wrote: "Yes! You need to follow it through! The entire arc is beautiful as a whole!"Wow - lots of passionate pleas on this review . . . I will have to keep going sooner than later . . . silly TBR always getting in the way!
Mei wrote: "WOW, thank you so much, Matthew!!! I'm humbled! *blush*As for Benigni, it will not cost you anything: there're a lot of his reading on Youtube! Just search for "Benigni legge Dante" ;-)"
I love giving praise to my Goodreads friends!
Good point on the YouTube! I should have thought of trying that.
I have picked up Inferno several times and each time given up. Maybe I have not found the right translation or it might just not be my bag baby. I am Catholic and Bishop Robert Barron references it quite often which keeps me coming back over and over to try again. What translation did you feel was the clearest? I feel like if I could read a lay-mans version one time, I may be able to move into the best literal translation and have a better understanding having read through once.
Matthew wrote: More Italians! I now know that if I need an Italian I can just run out in the street and yell "Divina Commedia" and they will come running! :)Ahahahahahahahah I had a very strong mental image of this XD would be perfect in a comedy movie (and also waaaay better that the classic Italian tropes on pizza and "hand talking" *facepalm - I mean I love pizza and our cooking is famous for a good reason, but...Dante <3)
I hope that maybe on youtube you can also have captions? That would be great!
Matthew wrote: "More Italians! I now know that if I need an Italian I can just run out in the street and yell "Divina Commedia" and they will come running! :)"Ha-ha-ha!
Philip wrote: "I have picked up Inferno several times and each time given up. Maybe I have not found the right translation or it might just not be my bag baby. I am Catholic and Bishop Robert Barron references it..."Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was the translator of the audiobook I listened to. He seemed to focus more on the story and less on the poetry. This at least helps if you are esss interested in this as a poem.
The physical copy I referenced was the John Ciardi translation and kept the poetic feel, rhyme schemes, etc. It was interesting to compare sections after I had just finished listening.
I can see why it would be tough to stay focused and interested. Even though I ended up enjoying, part of the reason I went back a few times was because my mind had wandered. Good luck if you try it again!
Fabitha wrote: "Ahahahahahahahah I had a very strong mental image of this XD would be perfect in a comedy movie (and also waaaay better that the classic Italian tropes on pizza and "hand talking" *facepalm - I mean I love pizza and our cooking is famous for a good reason, but...Dante <3)I hope that maybe on youtube you can also have captions? That would be great!."
Ah, yes . . . the hand talking seems to be what makes it into American comedy shows when stereotyping Italians. They should get a bit more cerebral with a Dante reference!
Oh, I still need to check on YouTube and now I am hoping for captions!
Carol wrote: "Matthew wrote: "More Italians! I now know that if I need an Italian I can just run out in the street and yell "Divina Commedia" and they will come running! :)"Ha-ha-ha!"
😁😁😁🤣🤣🤣 I aim to entertain!
Matthew wrote: "Ah, yes . . . the hand talking seems to be what makes it into American comedy shows when stereotyping Italians. They should get a bit more cerebral with a Dante reference!."To be honest, we do hand-talking, I can't deny it XD people would be absolutely mesmerized any time I go out of the country at the amount of gesturing I can conjure on small topics. We are dramatic as Hell (pun intended) *shrugs*
Still, a Dante reference is always cool and sexy, and the man was actually brave to make fun of his contemporaries that way - so that's very high quality comedy of the Age of Communes, indeed! Except, you could be killed or banished for it.
Fabitha wrote: "To be honest, we do hand-talking, I can't deny it XD people would be absolutely mesmerized any time I go out of the country at the amount of gesturing I can conjure on small topics. We are dramatic as Hell (pun intended) *shrugs*"This comment led me on a YouTube search and I ended up finding possibly the cutest thing ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5wAW...
Fabitha wrote: "Still, a Dante reference is always cool and sexy, and the man was actually brave to make fun of his contemporaries that way - so that's very high quality comedy of the Age of Communes, indeed! Except, you could be killed or banished for it."
While to many now it might just seem like another boring classic poem, I can see how at the time it would have been edgy and controversial!
Matthew wrote: "This comment led me on a YouTube search and I ended up finding possibly the cutest thing ever!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5wAW...."
This was so funny!
Carol wrote: "Matthew wrote: "This comment led me on a YouTube search and I ended up finding possibly the cutest thing ever!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5wAW...."
This was so funny!"
I know! SUPER CUTE! ;)
