The Divine Comedy

Books | Fiction / Classics

4.3

(2.4K)

Dante Alighieri

Dante’s Divine Comedy relates the allegorical tale of the poet’s journey through the three realms of the dead. Accompanied through the Inferno and Purgatory by Virgil--author of the Roman epic the Aeniad--Dante encounters mythical, historical, and contemporaneous figures in their respective afterlives. Relying on classical (pagan) mythology and Christian imagery and theology, Dante imagines diverse vivid and inventive punishments for the various sinners he encounters, which have become part of the Western imagination. Upon their approach to Paradise, which as a pagan, no matter how worthy, the Latin poet cannot enter, Virgil relinquishes his role as guide to Beatrice. Dante's chaste beloved then accompanies him along the ascent, as they encounter the blessed and the holy, and Dante arrives at a vision of the heavenly paradise.

Poetry

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Author

Dante Alighieri

Pages

656

Publisher

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Published Date

2013-05-14

ISBN

0307823733 9780307823731

Community ReviewsSee all

"A must. "

TheGingerGirl455

"My boy Dante really did write revenge fanfiction with himself as a Mary Sue and got famous. What a power move."

Red Reads

"A must-read!! Alighieri once described the goal of this epic to be “life-changing” and it lived up to its goal, imo. Beautifully illustrates the Catholic Catechism while also brutally criticizing the institution of the Church. Inferno is usually the most popular volume, but Purgatorio is also a must-read. Paradiso is when things get hairy, but it makes sense since it’s dealing with otherworldly topics. Make sure to find a good translation: it makes it or breaks it!"

Shantalle 🥰

"This edition published by Everyman’s Library has a plus of a good enjoyable translation not only as a starter but one that you can take around wherever you go and keep as a go to translation that’s very readable. The back has historical references and a glossary to help with reading comprehension . Once your engaged the reading comprehension becomes like a good cross word puzzle. Can’t recommend it enough. "

Michael Caison

"Not gonna lie, you'll feel conflicted about liking how Dante writes Hell better than Heaven. Also, this book personifies petty revenge in more ways than one - Dante is one salty drama queen, and wrote this in spite. Knowing that makes the celebrity cameos (of the time) way funnier, so be on the lookout! "

C A

Candice A.

"I need everyone to know I only read this out of spite because my previous longest book was something I hated and I couldn't bare to have it on my goodreads year in books lol."

justagremlin

"The only good joke is found in the Inferno. This is a must for humanist everywhere, and those who are interested in taking a detour into the ideas of the ancient world. Depending on the tanslation you find you’ll be either driven to continue or find yourself wandering in existential quedtions about free will and the nature of sin. Take your time with this one, its 100 chapters of detailed spaces and obscure historical/literary references."