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Blackstone Audio presents a new recording of this classic masterpiece, originally published in 1320, with award-winning narrator Ralph Cosham.
No words can describe the greatness of this work, a greatness both of theme and of artistry. Dante's theme is universal; it involves the greatest concepts that man has ever attained. Only a genius could have found the loftiness of tone and the splendor and variety of images that are presented in The Divine Comedy.
The story is an allegory representing the soul's journey from spiritual depths to spiritual heights. As mankind exposes itself, by its merits or demerits, to the rewards or the punishments of justice, it experiences "Inferno" or hell, "Purgatorio" or purgatory, and "Paradiso" or heaven, a vision of a world of beauty, light, and song.
In this translation by Carlyle-Okey-Wicksteed, a single listening will reveal the power of Dante's imagination to make the spiritual visible.
In this edition, "Inferno" is translated by John Aitken Carlyle, "Purgatorio," by Thomas Okey, and "Paradiso" by Philip H. Wicksteed.
Anonymous
Posted April 16, 2002
Reading this alone would make your head spin. Although it's a little difficult at times, if you're really into it you could do some research on your own besides what Ciardi does. It makes the reading so much easier to understand. Not for the general audience, though. It takes a lot of patience and will to finish it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 12, 2000
'The Divine Comedy' describes a poet's journey through Heaven and Hell. It begins with the poet becoming lost and being found by Virgil, a Roman poet, who offers to show him through Hell to see all the punishments of the sinners, and then on to Purgatory. After Purgatory he is met by Beatrice, his love, who leads him through Paradise, and shows him all the blessed souls, including the Virgin Mary.
'The Divine Comedy' is a very good, but difficult book to read. Dante accomplishes his goal of showing the reader around the after-world using very descriptive poetry. The detail is excellent and creates very good imagery. However, the language is difficult and it makes the book much harder to read. I recommend this book highly, but be sure to have a lot of time to read it.
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Posted September 12, 2009
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Posted May 2, 2009
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Posted March 4, 2010
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Overview
Blackstone Audio presents a new recording of this classic masterpiece, originally published in 1320, with award-winning narrator Ralph Cosham.
No words can describe the greatness of this work, a greatness both of theme and of artistry. Dante's theme is universal; it involves the greatest concepts that man has ever attained. Only a genius could have found the loftiness of tone and the splendor and variety of images that are presented in The Divine Comedy.
The story is an allegory representing the soul's journey from spiritual depths to spiritual heights. As mankind exposes itself, by its merits or demerits, to the ...