annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Purgatorio is the second volume of Mary Jo Bang's translation of Alighieri's 14th century Divine Comedy. Originally published in 1320, a year before Alighieri's death, this edition, published by Graywolf Press is 336 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is the same epic narrative poem which has been the bane (and sometimes, joy) of students since time immemorial. For 700 years, classics students and scholars have pored over and digested Dante's words. This is a new, understandable, and most importantly, readable translation which remains true to the original as much as possible.
Each canto is first provided in triplet translation. The prose flows naturally for modern English speakers and in some cases made me grin and even surprised a chuckle a couple of times. The translator doesn't shy away from modern vernacular ("bugger off", "take credit", "...eyes were glued"), and the poem as a whole benefits from it. After the translation, the author has provided copious annotations and notes where subtleties which would've been understood by the original readers has been lost to time, as well as interpretations and explanations of time passage and other mundane information about the setting or characters (there are *so* many characters).
The book includes a good bibliography in addition to the chapter notes and annotations. Despite the improved understandability of this very good modern translation, this is not "easy reading". It requires some degree of engagement by the reader and I would recommend either pre-reading a precis (The World of Dante has some good resources), or reading with a good study guide whilst working through this edition.
Five stars. This is an accessible and good translation in modern vernacular.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Purgatorio is the second volume of Mary Jo Bang's translation of Alighieri's 14th century Divine Comedy. Originally published in 1320, a year before Alighieri's death, this edition, published by Graywolf Press is 336 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is the same epic narrative poem which has been the bane (and sometimes, joy) of students since time immemorial. For 700 years, classics students and scholars have pored over and digested Dante's words. This is a new, understandable, and most importantly, readable translation which remains true to the original as much as possible.
Each canto is first provided in triplet translation. The prose flows naturally for modern English speakers and in some cases made me grin and even surprised a chuckle a couple of times. The translator doesn't shy away from modern vernacular ("bugger off", "take credit", "...eyes were glued"), and the poem as a whole benefits from it. After the translation, the author has provided copious annotations and notes where subtleties which would've been understood by the original readers has been lost to time, as well as interpretations and explanations of time passage and other mundane information about the setting or characters (there are *so* many characters).
The book includes a good bibliography in addition to the chapter notes and annotations. Despite the improved understandability of this very good modern translation, this is not "easy reading". It requires some degree of engagement by the reader and I would recommend either pre-reading a precis (The World of Dante has some good resources), or reading with a good study guide whilst working through this edition.
Five stars. This is an accessible and good translation in modern vernacular.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
kristenmtan's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
read excerpts (like 2/3 of it) for hum. better than inferno tbh
read excerpts (like 2/3 of it) for hum. better than inferno tbh
bigbookbabe's review against another edition
4.0
(read for class) dante and virgil were kinda gay and you can’t convince me otherwise #14thcenturyslayers
bookishlysophie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It doesn’t quite hit the same as the previous volume of ‘The Divine Comedy’ but it’s still a wonderful poem that depicts an arduous journey that gradually improves. The departure of Virgil was particularly emotional. I’d highly recommend.
henry_michael03's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stewardii's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Here’s a quote - perhaps the most famous quote - from Lanark:
"Glasgow is a magnificent city," said McAlpin. "Why do we hardly ever notice that?"
“Because nobody imagines living here… think of Florence, Paris, London, New York. Nobody visiting them for the first time is a stranger because he's already visited them in paintings, novels, history books and films.”
Although I hadn’t read Inferno prior to this translation, I was no stranger to Dante’s Hell. I had no idea what Dante’s Purgatory looked like, though, so had a good degree of initial intrigue which sustained me for the first half or so.
But it became clear that it was really a retread of Inferno, with penitent souls purging the same sins we’d read about those suffering for. It’s no surprise to me that this is generally considered the weakest third of The Divine Comedy. There‘s also little room for Gray-ism, so it ultimately feels like a tight translation of a less extraordinary work.
"Glasgow is a magnificent city," said McAlpin. "Why do we hardly ever notice that?"
“Because nobody imagines living here… think of Florence, Paris, London, New York. Nobody visiting them for the first time is a stranger because he's already visited them in paintings, novels, history books and films.”
Although I hadn’t read Inferno prior to this translation, I was no stranger to Dante’s Hell. I had no idea what Dante’s Purgatory looked like, though, so had a good degree of initial intrigue which sustained me for the first half or so.
But it became clear that it was really a retread of Inferno, with penitent souls purging the same sins we’d read about those suffering for. It’s no surprise to me that this is generally considered the weakest third of The Divine Comedy. There‘s also little room for Gray-ism, so it ultimately feels like a tight translation of a less extraordinary work.
sabrinaelf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
salmad75's review against another edition
5.0
Nel percorso di lettura epica che ho iniziato, l'inferno di Dante sembra porsi come la legittima prosecuzione delle opere omeriche e dell'Eneide di Virgilio. Probabilmente è proprio il ruolo di guida di questi, che sembra dare continuità e segnare il passaggio di consegne a Dante.