Rating: 
Summary: 5 Stars aint enough!
Review: Dante's Inferno is a poetic masterpiece filled with intricate details and descriptions that paint a picture without a paintbrush. The vivid imagery and striking symbolism as well as the excellent use of motifs such as water, fire, and ice make this an engaging read. Dante's frequent use of the number three, also has biblical connotations. The Inferno is the first of the Divine Comedy, which also includes The Purgatorio and Paradiso. The inferno which is the base, or animal nature, Purgatory which is the struggle in human life, and Paradise, the godly part. In The Inferno, Hell is split up into 9 different circles. In each circle Dante meets spirits that are suffering in hell. The deeper into hell he gets the more serious the crimes committed are and the more severe the suffering and penalty are. In the ninth and final circle is the worst type of sinners and is where Lucifer rests. This circle is filled with ice and cold which symbolizes the coldness of the crime and that all traitors to anyone have cold hearts and is the coldest sin of all. Many different allegories are used and references to mythology are frequent. The poem is also written in Terza Rima which means third rhyme. Stanzas of three lines are used and symbolic retribution (punishment fits the sin committed) serves its purpose. Does everyone see The frequent references to three?The translation is excellent and the footnotes really do enhance the learning and help you understand the meaning behind the poem. Ultimately the Inferno is about finding one's self and understanding yourself before judging others, and his climb over Lucifer and out of hell symbolizes rebirth and overcoming sins. Dante's Inferno presents many olfactory, tactile, and gustatory details and imagery to relay its theme. What's the theme you ask? Well I'll leave that for you to figure out. People can learn much from this book and I advise anyone with the ability to make connections and grasp concepts to give this a thorough read. A must-have masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: A masterfully translated classic ...
Review: Dante's Inferno, by far the most interesting volume of Dante's Divine Comedy, is a must for any reader who wishes to cultivate their knowledge of the classics. Reading it would aid a reader in understanding later, highly allusive works, such as those of Joyce, or Eliot, since both writers allude to Dante in abundance. Pinsky's translation is erudite and a credit to his own poetic ability. Steering away from pure rhyme and instead using blank verse, he has avoided limiting himself, and the freedom he has gained has created a far more convincing and authoritative translation than others have achieved. An essential read, and a timeless work.
Rating: 
Summary: Together, Dante and Virgil lead Readers through Hell.
Review: Dante's masterpiece, The Inferno, is the profound epic poem in which Virgil leads Dante and the reader through the nine circles of Hell. Dante finds himself fatigued, lost and confused in the dark woods, wandering alone. Virgil, one that Dante respects as one of the greatest epic poets of all time, helps to show Dante the correct path that will lead them through Hell. Together, the two weather the, "realms of cold and heavy rain" (p.45) and observe sinners who are, "cold by their mouths, [with] misery by the looks their eyes [bare]" (p. 277). The suffering of the sinners appalls Dante so that he feels compassion for them. After speaking with these lost souls, Dante learns to no longer pity them since the crimes they committed were terrbile ones of everything from incontinence to fraud to betrayal. He soon learns that these souls deserve their eternal suffering for the wrongdoing they did while they were alive. Dante's writing through Robert Pinsky's translation, takes the reader through Hell by accurately descriving each detail from expresions on sinners' faces, to the smell of a river of boiling blood or swamp of suffering souls. When readers indulge themself into this epic poem, they will leave questioning the morals and ethics of today's world compared to Dante's. With Robert Pinsky's new verse translation and close reading, anyone can enjoy Dante's amazing work.
Rating:
Summary: To the 11 Year old Reader
Review: Dear 11 year old reader,
I do not believe that a child who probably still wears diapers and drinks from a bottle can be reading Dante. You need to go watch The Brave Little Toaster, and read Go Jane Go. Either that or you are a 50 year old man with an insecurity problem
Rating:
Summary: Agree with Audiofile review, But...
Review: Dispite the great translation, I must agree with the Audiofile reviewer. Pinsky and Heaney drew the listener into a dark nightmare of hell only to be shook awake by the sarcastic drones of the two coffeehouse poets. I was waiting for snapping fingers after their readings. Still I would be kinder than Audiofile and say this not only "worth the purchase price" but is a "must have."
Rating:
Summary: If you only read one book in your entire life...
Review: Even if you're not a fan of the classics, this should be your start. Pinsky's translation not only makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read, but the words and ideas of Dante are timeless. Each canto holds a revelation that everyone should be able to personally identify with and learn from. Unfortunately, this is not a "required" reading in school, but it should be. Too many of the best writings of literary history are left out to make room for modern classics. None of those hold a candle to this. A final recommendation; get it in hardcover. You'll keep this book for the rest of your life.
Rating:
Summary: A great, fresh translation which brings Dante to life.
Review: For anyone who struggled through Mandelbaum's translations
of Dante, Robert Pinsky's version of the Inferno is revelatory.
He manages to accomplish what no other modern translator has:
he takes Dante's strange terza rima structure and renders it
in fluent, elegant English version which preserves the rhyme
and brings out the power, fear, and loathing in Dante's vision.
The only way to get closer to Dante is to learn Italian.
Rating: 
Summary: Penn Student
Review: I am an honor student at an ivy league university trying to cram this book for a final in a Comp Lit. class and boy it is almost too much to take. The sheer boredom! This is what people at the time thought was exciting and spellbinding. Since Star Wars, this book is most definately dated. What is the purpose of reading this today when we have advanced so much, and can make entertainment that is a thousand times more interesting? Don't waste your time on this very boring and pointless book. I hate it!
Rating:
Summary: Good translation of a great classic
Review: I first read the Inferno in high school and after several years, wanted to read it again and I am glad I did. Pinsky's translation is very well executed and he does a wonderful job at bringing the terza rima into English. (His introduction explains just how difficult this is when translating from Italian into English) A great, dark classic, with a singular pathos that I have yet to see any literary (or cinematic) work surpass.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding endnotes that bring the classic to life
Review: I had always been daunted by Dante'. The reality of reading Dante' verse was made much simpler by the excellent endnotes that explained the contemporary context of the comedia'.
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