Scan barcode
A review by bookishevy
Inferno by Dante Alighieri
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The Inferno of Dante has been sitting on my Audible shelf for two years, but after reading how Annis, the main character in Let Us Descend, is introduced to Inferno before descending into her own hell with her spirit guide, I decided to finally listen to Inferno.
So basically Dante is wandering and gets lost in the woods and meets Virgil, who tells him his deceased lover Beatrice, who is spending her eternity in paradise, sent him to guide Dante through the nine circles of hell. She felt that Dante was being wicked - he was previous exiled from Florence for corruption - and a tour of hell would set him straight.
What stood out to me is how much the judgments fit the sins. For instance, in the second circle lustful souls are being tossed around by winds with no control over their bodies because they had no control over their desires. Talk about poetic justice. The further they travel the more miserable the souls are. There's crying and weeping and an overall atmosphere of torment, which is the point.
I know this isn't meant to be funny, but Dante seeing historical and mythological figures in hell tickled me. I couldn't help but think of who in modern history he would condemn to the nine circles.
Inferno is the first part of Dante's three-part Divine Comedy and not only serves as an allegory - the nine circles represent the temptation we must overcome if we want eternal paradise - but also helped Dante process his feelings on his expulsion from his home.
George Guidall narrates this audiobook. He was good except I wish he changed up his voice a bit more while portraying different characters. The Robert Pinsky translation is good. It doesn't feel like it was written in the 14th century, but If I had to listen to it again I would choose one with a full cast.
So basically Dante is wandering and gets lost in the woods and meets Virgil, who tells him his deceased lover Beatrice, who is spending her eternity in paradise, sent him to guide Dante through the nine circles of hell. She felt that Dante was being wicked - he was previous exiled from Florence for corruption - and a tour of hell would set him straight.
What stood out to me is how much the judgments fit the sins. For instance, in the second circle lustful souls are being tossed around by winds with no control over their bodies because they had no control over their desires. Talk about poetic justice. The further they travel the more miserable the souls are. There's crying and weeping and an overall atmosphere of torment, which is the point.
I know this isn't meant to be funny, but Dante seeing historical and mythological figures in hell tickled me. I couldn't help but think of who in modern history he would condemn to the nine circles.
Inferno is the first part of Dante's three-part Divine Comedy and not only serves as an allegory - the nine circles represent the temptation we must overcome if we want eternal paradise - but also helped Dante process his feelings on his expulsion from his home.
George Guidall narrates this audiobook. He was good except I wish he changed up his voice a bit more while portraying different characters. The Robert Pinsky translation is good. It doesn't feel like it was written in the 14th century, but If I had to listen to it again I would choose one with a full cast.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence