The Divine Comedy

I had initially bought the Audible version of this book when it was on sale; the reviews were very good, I had always wanted to read more of Dante and had never had the time; and at worst it would make a nice long book to fall asleep to. But I agree with other reviewers, once I started listening to Eduardo Ballerini's excellent narration, it was and is fascinating in its own right. Whatever translation I tried to read many years ago when I was in college, I had found difficult to get through, and often confusing; but this one is perfectly pitched for the modern reader/listener, lying there with my eyes closed and listening, I am transported to a fantastical realm of bizarre visions, yet emphasizing a journey of personal growth and redemption along the way. So now I have purchased the paperback volume as well, so I can go back and re-read sections, possibly highlight my favorite passages. I don't know if I would have stuck with the book all the way through on its own; but now that Mr. Ballerini has gotten me hooked on the storyline as well as the unique turns of phrase, I enjoy having the printed version as a backup. Loving the combination. Now I am thinking of ordering the book of prints of Gustave Dore's famous illustrations, to complete the collection and to see if the artist's interpretation of the visions differs from my own.

I cannot judge the translation quality except to say that those more knowledgeable than I say it is excellent. From my standpoint, they are correct. To be more specific, who cannot value this work, I wonder. It was written for "regular people" of Dante's day, so is not, as many have thought, for the effete. I have hesitated during my adult life, 'till now, to approach Dante and this work. This review is to encourage "everyday people" to get their own copy, a good one like this, and keep returning to it, reading little or much each time. It is a work first to read, letting the words and rhythms move across the mind, not necessarily being concerned about interpretation at first. There is, in my view, a strong likelihood that each wading or swimming into this work is so much worth the effort.

I read a number of glowing reviews of Clive James's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy and almost immediately got it for my Kindle. I had read bits and pieces of The Divine Comedy before, but I could not put this translation down. What an incredible read on so many different levels, including but not limited to philosophical and theological ones. I know that I will go back to parts of it again and again, and it has already led me back to starting to reread some of Aristotle's works. Nothing could have been a better find for a philosophy professor who has taught for 40 years and is shuddering at the thought of who she might be after she retires in a few years.

First since Amazon tends to lump reviews together for similar books I read the Kindle version of Clive James translation of the Divine comedy by Dante. the author made a good effort at writing the poem as poetry and used his quatrain format through out the poem. While he did not go for "modern -- should I say hip hop language " as many recent translations of classics have, his following the poetry format he used did change some of the well known lines -- think the entrance to Hell or the final canto of paradise, not bad just different. I also appreciated his attempt (and in my humble opinion I think he succeeded in making the individual lines ring with poetry. The author also did not use footnotes or add explanations so as not to detract from the poem. I feel that since the poem is over 700 years old the general reader will not be aware of many of the references Dante makes. I think adding the footnotes would allow a reader to look up references while at the same time allowing the reader to ignore (or reread the specific canto) with out referencing the footnotes.While this translation reads well I think a first time reader might get more out the Mandelbaum translation, I liked the Everyman's library version.However, if the choice is reading Dante or not then please read Dante, much to learn an appreciate on many levels and worth the time invested in reading and rereading.

This is my first time reading this translation, but my third time reading the trilogy in the past 20+ years. Still so moving and emotionally gripping.

This has been the easiest to read and most enjoyable translation of Dante's Divine Comedy I have encountered. Easy for a modern reader to pick up and go. I have the Kindle edition and had to play with the fonts to get the optimum display of the stanzas. Using my Kindle Paperwhite I settled on Caecilia font in the 3rd smallest size. This displays on the screen closest to what it would look like on the page. The line numbers show up at the end of the line instead of the beginning. In hindsight I might have picked this up in print instead of as an electronic book.

I took an online class to better understand this book which is actually a Poem! Dante died 800 years ago and it still stands the test of time.

In order to benefit from western civlization in general it is necessary to be able to know this book. Countless paintings, sculptures and literary works refer to The Divine Comedy without saying so - it is considered a part of a good education to be able to pick out these refereces automatically and understand them. One reading will not do - in oder to digest it all, many readings will be required.

This is the first translation I bought and maybe I'm just dumb, but I found this unnecessarily complex and hard to grasp. The verses(?) feel awkward and forced. It's like James' trying too hard to keep the specific format, thus sacrificing the clarity of story telling. It takes a significant amount of mental gymnastics to get a hang on what's happening. There were some great lines, though sadly they're far and few between.

I first encountered the Divine Comedy in the Everyman edition of the Cary translation. (This was during my schooldays in the 1960's, so perhaps 'Inferno' wasn't an entirely inappropriate text to be exploring. I certainly recognised one or two of my teachers ,,,) Cary was OK, but not exactly inspiring; there were too many places where the content seemed to me (even then) to have been sacrificed to fit the metre, and the metre was a sufficiently regular drumbeat to send me off to sleep. And yet, Dante spoke to me, and I wanted to know more.Alas, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and I never found the time or decisive inclination to sit down and learn to read the original. But I did form a definite liking and admiration for the writings of Clive James, whom I first encountered through his column in the 'Observer'. And I did maintain a relationship with Dante, albeit in translation and therefore at a distance. So I was intrigued to find that James had written this translation of Dante over many years and with great dedication and effort. I formed the good intention to read it, and finally, after a procrastination lasting five years, that good intention led me to Hell: I bought the book and have now set out upon my own long overdue pilgrimage, a very poor Dante to James's Virgil.This is a wonderful book. There is an immediacy and clarity to James's writing that speaks directly to this reader in an irresistible manner. Not having read the original in the original language, I'm really not qualified to judge, but as far as I've read as yet, my gut tells me that this is a notable translation, and a very fine work of literature in its own right. I find it very easy to pick up, and very hard to put down. I hesitate to say this, but James, I believe, has found the gift of speaking clearly for himself while allowing the original to speak through him with undiminished power. But here I'm really beyond myself; only Dante scholars can make such a judgement.All I can say is this: if you love good writing, and if you have any interest in other times and oher frames of thinking, and if you have a concern for your own inner life, the life of the spirit and the soul, buy this book and read it. You won't be disappointed

The best translation of this work I have encountered. Beuatiful, fluid and - above all - readable. Clive James does a fantastic job of rendering the poem in English form close to the Italin form. I've tried it numerous times in the classic English translation(s) and never succeeded getting past the rhythm but James uses a different style and the result is as masterful as everything else he turns his hands to. If you've a half an interest then buy this and it will surely accelerate it in to a fully fledged love of this masterpiece.

It was a gift

This is a bravely successful attempt to render Dante's genius into rhyme. The verse seems so natural and unforced that it is a joy to read. I just feel that it would have been even better with footnotes to help explain the many historical references in this epic poem.