Rating: 
Summary: Solid, if unspectacular, version of Dante's Masterpiece.
Review: Since it is given that Dante's Divine Comedy is one of the most important works of Western Literature, my review will focus on the translation rather than the original. Mandelbaum's translation was good, but not great. His greatest strength is that he maitains a strong sense of readability throughout most of the text. Although he does occasionally lapse into confusing gramatical structures in order to maintain the form of the poem, these are rare and do not detract from the reading to too great of an extent. However, what is lost in this translation at times, is the sense of poetry and pacing that are so crucial to Dante. This is not entirely his fault, however. In this edition of his work, there is no white space between each triplet of the poem. This, coupled with Mandelbaum's not having made any attempt to reflect terza rima in his translation, disrupts the flow of the original. While this is a small complaint, it does keep Mandelbaum's translation from achieving the brilliance of Pinsky and Merwin. However, Mandelbaum does have one advantage over those other two translators: he does the entire Comedy. While Pinsky's Inferno and Merwin's Purgatorio are superior to the same works in Mandelbaum's hands, Mandelbaum's translation is, in my opinion, the finest complete translation available.The glossing of the book is also strong, but, like the translation, does contain a few flaws. The notes are very thorough, but sometimes gloss the obvious, which can be quite tedious. Also, I would have preffered a higher quality of paper and print. While I realize that this series of books is intended to be inexpensive, a work with the length and depth of the Comedy warrants the extra expense necessary to make the reading experience less ardous. So, while I would recommend this edition to anyone just getting started on Dante (it was my first), serious Dante scholars might want to look elsewhere. The strengths of this volume (not the least of which is that it has the entire Comedy, rather than just a third) make it a worthwhile addition to the body of Dante translations, but it lacks any one tremendous strength to set it apart from the others.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully bound edition with a great set of notes
Review: The Divine Comedy consists of three books: Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise). A number of editions publish these as three separate volumes, so when you order you want to be sure you're getting what you want. This edition has all three in one volume. Not knowing Italian, I can't comment on the translation except to say that it seems to be highly regarded. Mandelbaum puts the Divine Comedy in meter, but it's not rhymed the way some translations are (Dorothy Sayers, for instance). But he sticks to the same Dantean meter throughout, so the translation has a very nice rhythm to it. Peter Armour has added a really nice set of notes: very concise yet very informative. They are are placed at the back of the book (pp. 543-791). The Divine Comedy is chock-full of references and allusions to figures and events both from Dante's own day and from classical mythology, so the notes are indispensable if one wants to arrive at a decent understanding of the text. A list of references on pp. 792-798 gives the exact place of reference in the biblical or classical literature Dante is referrring to. For instance, if in the notes Armour simply writes "Aristotle," one can turn to this reference section in order to find the exact place within Aristotle's writings. At the front of the book (pp. 40-53) is a handy timetable which sets events in Dante's own life alongside parallel political and cultural developments. Finally, interspersed throughout this volume are 42 sketch drawings by fifteenth century artist Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445-1510). This feature has its own historical interest, as it's fascinating to see how a mind from that period would have pictured the often bizarre scenes of Dante's imagination. What is really nice about this edition, however, is the binding: beautiful hardcover cloth and a really nice jacket (not shown in the Amazon photo) with a reproduction of a vivid fifteenth century portrait of Dante (also by Botticelli). Especially nice is the concave-shaped spine (I'm not sure what the proper word is for this feature) which allows the book to lay open flat, just like a good Bible. There's also a ribbon to keep one's place, and the typface is very clear and easy on the eyes. The Mandelbaum translation also comes in an Italian-English parallel edition. The only one I've seen so far is a small, 3-volume paperback set. If you know some Italian and are going to devote some serious study to the Comedy, this set might prove a handy companion.
Rating:
Summary: The history of human kind's reality.
Review: The Divine Comedy shows to the whole world, the spiritual reality that Dante himself felt at the time of his life when he wrote this book. To me, this book has been an inspiration, an impulse towards looking into myself and realizing whether what Dante described in his Comedy, existed within me. And by that I mean that I started to look into my actions, my behaviours, my words. His language is incredibly complex but once you get the hang of it, you are able to enjoy and learn from his journey. Of course, there are many interpretations for his Comedy, and each and every one of you will have one that differs from the other. But however you decide to interpret this great book, you are sure to learn much more about yourself and what could happen to any one of us, if we separate ourselves too much from the Spiritual. An excellent book, an inspirational poetry, a reality in words, a stimulus to begin the knowledge of ourselves. Endless thanks to Dante for helping in this Great Cause. Oliver González.
Rating:
Summary: The Divine Comedy by Dante (Translated)
Review: The Divine Comedy was written in the 14th century proximate
to the year 1313. The work traverses the reigns of Pope Clement
and Pope John the 22nd. Dante attempts to answer the question
"What happens when we die?" Through the character of Beatrice,
the author takes us through the regions of the underworld
both purgatory and hell in preparation for the glory of heaven.
This is literature of the highest quality in terms of
the use of picturesque vocabulary and sentence construction. The reader is taken through scenes depicting souls stationed
upside down through eternity somewhat like bats. In other parts,
the soul is tortured by flying demons with pitchforks.
The work is a good assignment to challenge the imagination
of young readers. It is highly recommended for readers in the
latter part of high school or the early collegiate years.
Rating:
Summary: You can't argue with Dante
Review: The ideas expressed by Dante on sin and the nature of goodness are indeed profound, if not, on occasion, shadowed by political allegience. The sinner in the seventh circle can be identified as a prominent opposer of the White Guelphs, the political party of Dante himself. There are also certain historical dogmas which have since passed from common thought, some ought to be disgarded others re-evaluated. This book, on a theological level, ought to be cross-studied with C.S. Lewis' 'The Great Divorce'.
Rating:
Summary: Modern relevancy of inferno
Review: The Inferno is a timeless classic that continues to inspire young authors. I recently ran a cross a modern version of the book,, A Journey to hell and Back by Charlotte Johnson, based on one individuals modern journey through hell in the Z-shop. It is intriguing to read both books and discuss the modern use of metaphors and allegory with classic literature. It is alos a good way to keep teenagers interested in classical literature. I have included this book introduction to show the parallel structures. Journey To Hell and Back
By Charlotte Johnson
Journey To Hell and Back is a gripping saga of a young woman's journey from adolescence to adulthood at an accelerated pace. This book is an exploration of a troubled teen's journey into the underworld to emerge as an independent, confident, and self-assured woman. Pitfalls, tragedy, and trials that lure a young honor student into the mean streets of Atlanta and finally, New York mark the story. Her journey to hell led her through a fiery furnace that burned 70 % of her body with 2nd and 3rd degree burns, and an over three months hospital stay where God provided personal consolation and healing. After God miraculously saved her from a life in the streets heaped with sin, her zeal for God resulted in her making additional mistakes, including renewing the abusive relationship that had almost cost her life.
The story is a modern day version of Dante's Inferno. Each layer of Hell corresponds with a new low in the protagonist's life. Finally, from within the very bowels of Hell, she cries out to the Lord for salvation. This spiritual epiphany becomes a turning point in her life, thrusting her forward from Hell. The tremendous suffering and miraculous ending of this book will offer hope and comfort for anyone suffering from loneliness, heartache, or disappointment. It provides a realistic and human perspective on many social topics such as teenage rebellion and pregnancy, domestic violence, divorce, AIDS, substance abuse, prostitution, and the legal system. It is a necessity for anyone who has been a part or will work with any of these populations.
Rating:
Summary: Great translation, but poorly put together!
Review: The reason this edition of the DC only received 3 stars from me is not because of the translation; for lack of better words, it's gold. I have to say, though, I don't enjoy reading this copy very much, because the black epoxy-like material on the front and on the side that display the name crack off and stick to my hands while I'm reading, so I always have to wash my hands after I read this. If you wouldn't mind this, then definitely buy this! This is a great translation for a great value.
Rating:
Summary: Great translation, but poorly put together!
Review: The reason this edition of the DC only received 3 stars from me is not because of the translation; for lack of better words, it's gold. I have to say, though, I don't enjoy reading this copy very much, because the black epoxy-like material on the front and on the side that display the name crack off and stick to my hands while I'm reading, so I always have to wash my hands after I read this. If you wouldn't mind this, then definitely buy this! This is a great translation for a great value.
Rating:
Summary: Which Translation?
Review: The translation that you choose will have an impact upon your enjoyment of any work written in a foreign language. In the case of The Divine Comedy, the translations recommended by The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation are those by (1) Dorothy L. Sayers and (2) Geoffrey L. Bickersteth. The Mandelbaum translation also received favorable comment.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writing and gathering of characters
Review: The whole idea of it is beautiful. The woman he loves dies and he travels through Hell and everything to find her. Then, after meeting her near the end of Purgatory, she gives him a tour of Heaven (which is basically the solar system..with Mars, Jupiter, etc.. in the story). I like how here "Heaven" just means EVERYTHING in the sky. Or...i guess just everything except the Earth, because in the story Hell is inside of the Earth and Purgatory is a huge mountain very far away (remember that the Europeans did not know yet of America). There are a lot of beautiful metaphors in the book. I wish i could remember them all. They are very poetic. A lot of places are in there where the book made me stop and think about something. But i think that is the purpose of it. There are a lot of 'scare tactics' in Inferno and a lot of promises in Paradise. It is obvious that Dante wrote this book for a mass audience...to be read by everybody. It is a very good story and it does make the reader think about their life, but i think that one has to remember that it is still art, and it is not truth. I remember when Passion of the Christ came out and a lot of people thought, "Oh, i better change my ways!" because of it. One needs to keep in mind that that is just one person's interpretation of the story. It was not filmed with a camera 2000 years ago. It is just how one person read the story and pictured it in their mind. I see the same thing with The Divine Comedy. It was required reading in Italian schools and I sincerely hope nobody took everything word for word, though there are lessons to be learned from it. It is a fictional story with a lot of historical people in it. He chose to put some in Paradise and some in the Inferno. They are in those places in the story because that is where he wanted them. During the past 2 weeks in my philosophy class, i have learned about some of the people who were shown in The Divine Comedy such as Plato, Socrates, St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, etc.. I think i would have understood the book better (though i did learn a lot from the notes in the book too) if i would have started it today, just because i know more about the people in it. I think in the future..maybe 5 years or 10 years, i don't know..that i will read it again and have a much better understanding of the things he was trying to say. I am glad i read it and it was much more enjoyable than sitting around staring at the TV all day.
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