The Inferno

Since first reading Dante's COMMEDIA at university some 20 years ago I have read many different translations. Regrettably this one, the best by far in my opinion, had not been published then.Robert Hollander (described in the New York Times as "one of the pre-eminent Dante scholars of our time") and his wife Jean, an accomplished poet, have provided the reader with informative notes and commentaries on the text, which has the Italian text displayed on the left hand side and the English translation facing it on the right hand page. The Hollander INFERNO was first published in 2000, followed by the other two parts of the COMMEDIA, PURGATORIO and PARADISO, in 2003 and 2007 respectively.This is highly recommended for committed readers, it is not something to be read whilst lying on a beach or on a bus journey, it requires time and concentration, not to mention the space to lay out related texts by authors referred to in Dante's work, such as Aristotle, Cicero, Homer, Ovid, St Thomas Aquinas, Virgil and the Bible.I'll leave you with a couple of comments extracted from reviews of the Hollander translations of the INFERNO and of PARADISO:"Nevertheless, the Hollanders’ translation is now the best on the market. So, if you want to read the Divine Comedy, get this version."from Joan Acocella's review of PARADISO, New York Times, 3 Sep 2007...it's worth reading the whole review if you can find it."With any translation of the Inferno, one can quibble ad infinitum, if only because the original just cannot be pinned down. But the Hollanders’ translation is a welcome addition, and, when one comes to all these versions fresh from a rereading of the original, it seems the most accessible and the closest to the Italian."Tim Parks, review of INFERNO 15 January 2001, The New Yorker...again, it's worth reading the whole review if you can access it.Highly recommended.

My first foray into "the classics" could not have been a better choice - indeed, I think I may have spoiled myself by choosing one of the best first! Dante's work is fantastic, which suprised me as I am not a fan of poetry, and the additions provided by the editors were immensely useful. I recommend that if you are new to Dante, you read through the whole poem by itself first, then read it again, but using the explanations provided after each section to clarify some of the more obscure points. Although I had originally thought this version of the text was illustrated, I am now pleased it isn't, as it allows the reader to use their imagination to the fullest. Although I have no idea how a seasoned literature expert would view this book, for a beginner it is magnificent!

I am not a well read man, and when I say 'well read', I mean I have had not read many classical novels or poems etc. And before buying this book, these such thoughts were going through my mind:"Oh, I've never read a poem before in my life, I probably wont understand it""Commentaries? Urgh, but they were such a bore in school"Despite these thoughts, I bought this translation of the Inferno anyway, and I couldnt have chosen better.The poem is tranlated brilliantly, because I understand it, and I can feel it. Simple as that.The commentaries after each Canto are not dull or boring at all, because they are not only interesting, but are a humungous help. On first reading a canto on its own, I could understand it yes, but after reading the commentary with it, I understood it even more, and understood the depths behind it.I had great fun reading this book, its entertaining for a good read and even contains some good humour, both in the poem itself and in the commentary.All in all, if like me you're not an English literary expert. Do not worry! The poem is a joy to read (considering where its based) and the commentaries explain it so well, that it felt like I had Mr and Mrs Hollander sitting next to me explaining what it all meant as I went along.So in a way, as I read about Dante's trip through hell with Virgil as his guide, I took a trip through hell, following behind Dante and Virgil, with Robert and Jean Hollander as my guide.My Recommendation: Buy it!

The first of the Hollanders' terrific Dante translations.

I bought this as preparation for a course on Dante, recommended by the tutor, and it is an ideal choice, even for the beginner. A dual-language version, Italian on the left, English (by poet Jean Hollander) on the right, each Canto preceded by a useful summary and followed by explanatory notes by Robert Hollander, which I would say are essential to a fuller understanding of the poem, though the constant cross-referencing (which I have no intention of following up - at 73, my remaining days are more precious to me than that) makes the reading of the notes more of a chore than it need be.It might be worth noting that the 'translation' is actually a poetic English version of the original, so I was often at something of a loss as to how the English meant what the original seemed to be saying. Otherwise, absolutely perfect for my purposes.

To give this work a 5* rating would not be doing the work of Robert & Jean Hollander any justice whatsoever. It is a work that suits the needs of students studying the Inferno, the casual reader who wishes to know more or understand better Dante's views in the Inferno, and for the specialist in such a subject. It opens with a nice little introduction to the Inferno and a short history of the man behind it, as well as a one page drawing/map of the Inferno from the Dark Wood to the Frozen Floor of Hell. The Inferno ends with a list of works cited, for further reading. The commentary is superb and extremely detailed.The depth of such a task undertaken by Robert & Jean to bring such a book forward is admirable to say the least.

Not yet opened by the recipient as these items are birthday gifts. They arrived in good time and appear to be in good condition.

Fine translation