The Inferno Of Dante: A New Verse Translation By Robert Pinsky (1995) - Plot & Excerpts
Robert Pinsky's translation of Dante's classic Inferno is easy to read and to understand. He includes a series of notes in the back for both the student and general reader. As far as the story itself...Dante's chilling version of hell is wrapped in humorous pokes at his countrymen as well as vivid warnings to those who stray from the moral path of good. Whether you are a believer or not, the lessons to take away from Dante's journey are clear. Throughout the journey he interacts with notable figures in history (Mostly from Italy) who tell him of their reasons for being where they are. Each of these reasons could be seen as a moral for the reader to take note of in their daily lives. Again, whether you are a believer or not is irrelevant. As someone who studies all religions, I find value in the teachings and lessons of each of them. Dante's classic tale is no different. Read it, absorb the faults of the sinners and apply a little of the morals to your daily life. Whether you are Christian or Pagan, applying a little good to your life is never a bad thing. My Book Club Buddy was right, oh so right when she said that Dante's Inferno is hard. Boy howdy. I have been through two versions of it: 1) translated by John Ciardi and 2) translated by John Pinsky (this one has won a lot of awards) but who cares if you don't understand what they are fully writing about. I find I'm not so bright with Italian Translations. I have another Book Club Buddy that was a school teacher for 37 years, and I have wondered if she has taught this before. Wish we lived closer. Would love to have private lessons!
What do You think about The Inferno Of Dante: A New Verse Translation By Robert Pinsky (1995)?
A beautiful verse translation. I liked having the original Italian text as well.
—lady
My favorite translation with helpful annotations
—Emma
