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Inferno: The Divine Comedy I

By Dante
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( 202,124 ratings, 9,547 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Inferno: The Divine Comedy I by Dante is a monumental epic poem that begins with the protagonist’s journey through Hell. Guided by the Roman poet Virgil, the story follows their descent through the nine circles of Hell, each representing different sins and torments. Along the way, Dante encounters various historical and mythological figures, offering both a personal and philosophical exploration of morality and redemption.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by epic poetry and are intrigued by a journey through the afterlife, exploring themes of sin, redemption, and moral reflection. This book can appeal to those who appreciate rich allegorical storytelling and are curious about a masterpiece that has significantly influenced literature and culture.

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Inferno: The Divine Comedy I

Depicts a cruel underworld in which desperate figures are condemned to eternal damnation for committing one or more of seven deadly sins. In this title, the author encounters doomed souls including the pagan Aeneas, the liar Odysseus, the suicide Cleopatra, and his own political enemies, damned for their deceit.

Describing Dante's descent into Hell midway through his life with Virgil as a guide, Inferno depicts a cruel underworld in which desperate figures are condemned to eternal damnation for committing one or more of seven deadly sins.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"The perfect balance of tightness and colloquialism... likely to be the best modern version of Dante." - Bernard O'Donoghue

Describing Dante's descent into Hell midway through his life with Virgil as a guide, Inferno: The Divine Comedy I depicts a cruel underworld in which desperate figures are condemned to eternal damnation for committing one or more of seven deadly sins.

As he descends through nine concentric circles of increasingly agonising torture, Dante encounters doomed souls including the pagan Aeneas, the liar Odysseus, the suicide Cleopatra, and his own political enemies, damned for their deceit.

Led by leering demons, the poet must ultimately journey with Virgil to the deepest level of all. For it is only by encountering Satan, in the heart of Hell, that he can truly understand the tragedy of sin.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Reviews praise the translation for its masterful execution and nuanced understanding of the original Italian. The book is lauded for its intelligent and energetic approach, with detailed introductions and notes enhancing the reader's understanding. Reviewers appreciate the balance between scholarly insight and readability, noting that it allows deeper engagement with Dante's work.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140448955

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 March 2006

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Robin Kirkpatrick
  • Edited by Robin Kirkpatrick

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 400g

Pages: 576

About the Author

Dante Alighieri was born in 1265. Considered Italy's greatest poet, this scion of a Florentine family mastered in the art of lyric poetry at an early age. His first major work is La Vita Nuova (1292) which is a tribute to Beatrice Portinari, the great love of his life. Married to Gemma Donatic, Dante's political activism resulted in his being exiled from Florence to eventually settle in Ravenna. It is believed that The Divine Comedy-comprised of three canticles, The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso-was written between 1308 and 1320. Dante Alighieri died in 1321. Robin Kirkpatrick is a poet and widely-published Dante scholar. He has taught courses on Dante's Divine Comedy in Hong Kong, Dublin, and Cambridge where is Fellow of Robinson College and Professor of Italian and English Literatures.

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