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Title: The " Inferno" of Dante: A New Verse Translation by Dante, Michael Mazur, Robert Pinsky ISBN: 0-460-87764-X Publisher: Orion Publishing Co Pub. Date: 05 February, 1996 Format: Hardcover |
Average Customer Rating: 4.54 (37 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Do not abandon hope all ye...
Comment: The Inferno is by far the most interesting of the three books which make up Dante's Divine Comedy, and Robert Pinsky's translation is by far the best I've ever read.
The Inferno is the story of Dante's journey through hell on the night before Good Friday in 1300. He moves through the nine circles, until he meets Satan in the middle. Each circle holds souls who committed various sins, each catagorised by their sins and punishments. All of Dante's sinners receive retribution, ironically based on their respective sins. He also fills hell with famous sinners, making it easier to determine what sins belong to which circle of hell. The nine circles are also catagorised by regions: the first five are the sins of incontinence, the next three are the sins of violence, the next is the sins of fraud, and the last and most terrible circle is the sins of betrayal.
One of the most notable things about The Inferno is that Dante's theme is not that of Christian forgiveness, but instead it is justice. All sinners in hell deserve their punishments, and they will suffer them forever. This is illustrated by the case of the sinful love of Francesca da Rimini.
Pinsky's gift to the readers of this version of The Inferno is twofold: the first is his ability to write so well in English, and the second is the way he chose to present the English with regard to the Italian. The Inferno is written in terza rima, which Dante invented for the Divine Comedy. This involves a rhyming scheme, and many translators restrict themselves to it when publishing The Inferno. However, Pinsky keeps the three line stanzas of terza rima while writing in plain verse instead of rhymed, letting him mirror Dante's phrasing and flow without restriction.
Pinsky's version of The Inferno is also bilingual - Italian on the left page and English on the right. This allows even the most casual Italian scholar to follow the translation, and see the logic of it, which is a thoughtful and useful bonus. The notes on each canto are superb, and necessary to catch all of Dante's in-jokes.
This version of The Inferno is perfect for anybody who really wants to read and understand Dante's classic. I recommend it as a gift, to others and to yourself.
Rating: 5
Summary: Pinsky brings Dante into the 20th century
Comment: Dante is finally easy to read and not only that, but exciting, scary, and powerfully moving. Pinsky's translation places you at Dante's side as he travels through the dark abyss. This is such a sensual, earthy translation that at times I felt suffocated by the dark air of hell, cringed at the fate of a sinner, and nearly swooned at the harsh justice being played out before me. The action and excitement of the story occasionally sent shivers down my spine. The scene where Dante and Virgil are escorted through one of hell's circles by a pack of vicious demons, then must flee those demons had me on the edge of my seat! This book is for anyone who found Dante difficult or never understood what all the fuss was about. Pinsky does a great job of making the poem come alive. I found it read more like a movie than a book. Take a chance and read this book. It will be an experience you won't easily forget. As you leave hell with Dante, you will hear the screams of agony fading into the distance, feel the cool night breeze caress your face, and, once again, you will see the stars
Rating: 5
Summary: Good translation of a great classic
Comment: I first read the Inferno in high school and after several years, wanted to read it again and I am glad I did. Pinsky's translation is very well executed and he does a wonderful job at bringing the terza rima into English. (His introduction explains just how difficult this is when translating from Italian into English)
A great, dark classic, with a singular pathos that I have yet to see any literary (or cinematic) work surpass.
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Title: The Canterbury Tales (Bantam Classics) by Geoffrey Chaucer ISBN: 0553210823 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 March, 1982 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Great Dialogues of Plato (Signet Classics (Paperback)) by Plato ISBN: 0451527453 Publisher: Signet Classics Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Gilgamesh: A New Rendering in English Verse by David Ferry ISBN: 0374523835 Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Pub. Date: 01 July, 1993 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
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Title: The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince of Denmark (PELICAN SHAKESPEARE) by William Shakespeare, A. R. Braunmuller ISBN: 0140714545 Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $3.95 |
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Title: The Professor's House (Vintage Classic) by Willa Cather ISBN: 0679731806 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 01 November, 1990 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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