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antennaclasses's review against another edition
5.0
Granted, I only read the Divine Comedy and not La vita nuova because this was for class, but I still think this poem has locked itself into my heart like a puzzle piece. A grand exploration of humanity in a wide array of colors, timeless and endlessly relevant. Purgatory is the best book, though its power comes from its place within the larger trilogy.
barbsaj's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best translation, but okay...the intro material is good though.
hannchilada's review against another edition
2.5
I didn’t read this in Italian. This review might be incredibly different if I did. In English, the raw beauty of the poetry isn’t represented so well.
It was philosophically grueling but also rewarding. The use of cosmic irony is beautifully thought out, as is the symbolism between the pilgrim and the mortal traveling through life.
Dante didn’t have a wide enough audience in mind, though. His constant diatribes on references to minor characters bog things down, and make it seem so much less universal than it could. Because of it, it loses the lasting feeling something of this philosophical merit should have.
It was philosophically grueling but also rewarding. The use of cosmic irony is beautifully thought out, as is the symbolism between the pilgrim and the mortal traveling through life.
Dante didn’t have a wide enough audience in mind, though. His constant diatribes on references to minor characters bog things down, and make it seem so much less universal than it could. Because of it, it loses the lasting feeling something of this philosophical merit should have.
raloveridge's review
4.0
Yep, I definitely had to teach Dante's Purgatorio at the tail end of a goddamn pandemic. That's a thing I definitely did.
sophie_e_s's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sorceress_j's review against another edition
3.0
The Divine Comedy is considered to be one of the best written works in the history of literature. In some ways, I completely get the hype. In others, not so much, either out of confusion or just being lost in wave after wave of allegorical symbolism. But, I swear that symbolism started off as much more interesting than it ended up being toward the end of the Comedy, at least for me.
My breakdown is seriously:
Inferno: 4 stars
Purgatory: 3 stars
Paradise: 2 stars
It just went down in quality for me the further I went, mostly because it got more and more tedious the more people Dante encounters and how some of the same situations keep happening to him. By Paradise, not only was I confused about all that was going on...I was just flat-out BORED, and I know the translation has nothing to do with it. This translation is actually really readable, so I'm going to blame this on the story. Daring for an English major to do, I know, criticizing one of the most iconic works of all time. At the same time, I think I can acknowledge that I guess it just wasn't for me.
If I were to base the entire Comedy off of Inferno, I would have given it a higher rating no problem. Now, that was entertaining to read in spite of the sometimes gross imagery. I think it's because it must have woken some morbid curiosity within me, to read about these punishments and how they are carried out within each circle. Honestly, even though it is a tale of redemption, I would have been fine if Dante had learned his lesson right then and there and just went home. Purgatory and Paradise are nowhere near as entertaining, just take it from me.
My breakdown is seriously:
Inferno: 4 stars
Purgatory: 3 stars
Paradise: 2 stars
It just went down in quality for me the further I went, mostly because it got more and more tedious the more people Dante encounters and how some of the same situations keep happening to him. By Paradise, not only was I confused about all that was going on...I was just flat-out BORED, and I know the translation has nothing to do with it. This translation is actually really readable, so I'm going to blame this on the story. Daring for an English major to do, I know, criticizing one of the most iconic works of all time. At the same time, I think I can acknowledge that I guess it just wasn't for me.
If I were to base the entire Comedy off of Inferno, I would have given it a higher rating no problem. Now, that was entertaining to read in spite of the sometimes gross imagery. I think it's because it must have woken some morbid curiosity within me, to read about these punishments and how they are carried out within each circle. Honestly, even though it is a tale of redemption, I would have been fine if Dante had learned his lesson right then and there and just went home. Purgatory and Paradise are nowhere near as entertaining, just take it from me.
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
Inferno: 4.5 Stars
Purgatorio: 3.5 Stars
Paradiso: 2 Stars
3.5 Stars overall, rounded up for a really good translation and overall enjoyable journey*
*Pun intended
Purgatorio: 3.5 Stars
Paradiso: 2 Stars
3.5 Stars overall, rounded up for a really good translation and overall enjoyable journey*
*Pun intended
catherinepbartnikgmailcom's review against another edition
5.0
Taking a week-long Dante class during college was not one of my better ideas, but I loved it anyway. Who doesn't enjoy eight straight hours of Dante every day?
isabelawith1l's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely one of my favorite books that I've had to read for school - there was no shortage of deep yet comedic topics to discuss, and Dante is a pretty entertaining man, both as a Poet and as the Pilgrim