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Title: The Purgatorio by Dante Alighieri, John Ciardi, Dante ISBN: 0-451-52802-6 Publisher: New American Library Pub. Date: 10 July, 2001 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 (6 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Reading Dante is sort of like being in purgatory
Comment: I read the Mendelbaum (I apologize for what may be an awful misspelling) version of _Inferno_ quite some time back, but I always wanted to finish the series. They didn't have the Mendelbaum translation at my local bookstore, so I went with this instead. I'd say that Ciardi did an admiral job with the rhyme. I was able to accept the compromise between actual terza rima and a straight translation, given the scarcity of rhymes in English. I felt that most of the work was understandable, though there were some moments of distinct confusion. The notes are very in-depth and keep a sense of humor about them, something that is vital when reading Dante. They provide a refreshing sense of perspective when one starts to become too bogged down in Dante's poem. There is certainly a lot to be gained from reading Dante, despite the effort required. I thought this edition enhanced by enjoyment of the poem considerably. I'd recommend it, with the caveat that it is probably more imprecise than other translations, due to the need to rhyme.
Rating: 5
Summary: DEEP AND MOVING
Comment: When I read "Inferno" I read the John Ciardi translation, so it only made sense that I read "Purgatorio" by the same translator. As I like poetry I definitely like the fact that his translations rhyme even if several liberties have to be taken with the original text. Sometimes, though, it seems as if the translator is more concerned about rhyming than getting the point across. However, as Ciardi points out, Dante is very deep and challenging. Translating is difficult. Translating the "Divine Comedy" and making it rhyme while still making sense is harder still but Ciardi does an admirable job. There are quite a few tercets that are absolutely wonderful to read.
The Purgatorio details the journey of Virgil and Dante as they go up Purgatory. If there is one thing that I like about Dante, it is in the way he thinks, which appears very logical. In Purgatory, one sees that one starts at the very bottom, which shows humility. This of course, makes perfect sense, since these souls are approaching God. I particularly liked Dante's reasoning behind "The Proud". In life, they walked around with their noses held high, thinking highly of themselves. In Purgatory, they crawl under the crushing weight of huge boulders, making them humble and bringing them "back down to earth."
Each Canto starts with a very helpful synopsis of what follows. After that is the Canto and after that are the footnotes. It is extremely beneficial to know some mythology and Italian history beforehand, but the footnotes at the end will fill in the many gaps for you, that is, if you have the patience to read them. If you're still confused about what all has gone on, the section at the very end entitled "How to Read Dante" is very helpful, a nice way to finish the book.
This book, like its predecessor, can be very challenging and tedious. But, as Virgil and Dante find, though the road is rough so are the riches that much greater when they finally come to journey's end.
Rating: 1
Summary: Move Along...
Comment: This is a translation that was doomed from the start. Since it is impossible to translate the rhyme scheme and meter of the poem into English; we must simply be content with a true translation, or learn Italian. Ciardi makes a valiant attempt, but it is futile. In fact he makes a fairly straightforward text almost impossible to understand. He also savages the text in order to fit the words into the meter and rhyme. Although in some ways I prefer this to the cleaner translations (since it DOES have the true feel of Dante about it), I am afraid I cannot recommend it; especially not to a beginner. Stick with Allen Mandelbaum (though Ciardi's glosses are more comprehensive and elaborate)
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Title: The Inferno by Dante Alighieri, John Ciardi, Dante Alighieri, Archibald T. MacAllister ISBN: 0451527984 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: 12 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained (The Signet Classic Poetry Series) by John Milton, Christopher B. Ricks, Susanne Woods ISBN: 0451527925 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: 07 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: Paradiso by Dante ISBN: 0553212044 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 January, 1986 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: The Aeneid by Virgil, Robert Fitzgerald ISBN: 0679729526 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 16 June, 1990 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: The Dore Illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy by Gustave Dore ISBN: 048623231X Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1976 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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