Dante's Inferno

As I sit down to type this post, it is laughable that I am writing a "review" on Dante. In fact so laughable that I can't even bring myself to label this post as a book review.  Instead I'll just share my thoughts on this amazing literary work and strongly encourage you to pick up a translation and read it for yourself.  And of course if you are fluent in Italian by all means read the original.

Aside from being vaguely familiar with who Dante was-- an Italian writer from a long time ago... no, like a really long time ago-- I didn't have much interest in reading his writing. Too academic, not enough passion. (No, not that type of passion. Geesh, where is your mind?!) But after reading a story in which the main character was a Dante expert I was intrigued by his all encompassing obsession with Beatrice. So I toddled over to the library and picked up Dante's Inferno: A Translation by Michael Palma. I should mention that DH mocked me ruthlessly for my recent YA (that's Young Adult) book obsession so it was a VERY nice change of pace to check out something from the Adult section and Non-fiction at that.

I was immediately struck by how easy to read and comprehend his poetry is. Even though it was written in the middle ages his tone and word choice is relevant and accessible today. Of course I haven't read anyone else's translation of Dante Alighieri so it will be interesting to see if I feel the same after reading Purgatorio and Paradiso (the second and third poems from the Commedia) from other translators.

After settling into the story-- oh I guess I should start with that. Dante is lost in the woods when he's approached by the ghost of Virgil, one of Dante's literary influences. He is told by Virgil that Beatrice is worried about Dante's soul and has asked him to take Dante on a journey through Hell so that he may be saved. Blurg, this sounds so contrite and I'm cringing at my own oversimplification but I'll continue...

Virgil escorts him through each circle of hell as Dante witnesses what a tortuous afterlife is for many. And I'm here to tell you that the "wrath" some claim can be found in the bible has absolutely nothing on Dante. They should be teaching Inferno in those fire and brimstone churches to insure moral behavior. The descriptions, while terrifying and horrific almost beg to be illustrated. I can see why so many artists have tried their hand at illustrating Dante's words. His word choice creates a beautiful flow and is, for lack of a better word, lyrical.

I could go on to describe each circle of Hell but I won't. First and foremost I won't do it justice, I'm more than a bit intimidated to even review such a masterful piece of literature. Nevertheless I do hope that you'll challenge yourself by finding a translation and taking a crack at this story. I think you'll be surprised how easy it is to read.

I had the pleasure of participating in an online interview with a Dante scholar this weekend and they recommended translations by Dorothy Sayers and Mark Musa. You can bet I'll be checking them out soon.

Oh and Mamere requested that I mention The Poet's Dante: Twentieth-Century Responses, edited by Peter S. Hawkins & Rachel Jacoff.  It's a compilation of essays by famous 20th century poets and writers writing about how Dante has influenced their work. I just started it last night but so far it's quite interesting albeit a little slow at times.

Happy Reading!

Cheers, 
Ouiser