Poetry Books
Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics)
RRP: $17.95
Our Price: $17.95
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Author: Dante Alighieri, Alighieri Dante, David N. Higgins
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $17.95
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Author: Dante Alighieri, Alighieri Dante, David N. Higgins
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Customer Rating:
Experimental feature: Order Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics) from the UK, Canada, Germany or France by clicking an appropriate flag below.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 851.1
EAN: 9780192835024
ISBN: 0192835025
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 752
Publication Date: 1998-02-01
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Dewey Decimal Number: 851.1
EAN: 9780192835024
ISBN: 0192835025
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 752
Publication Date: 1998-02-01
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Editorial Review of Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics)
This single volume, blank verse translation of The Divine Comedy includes an introduction, maps of Dante's Italy, Hell, Purgatory, Geocentric Universe, and political panorama of the thirteenth and early fourteenth century, diagrams and notes providing the reader with invaluable guidance. Described as the "fifth gospel" because of its evangelical purpose, this spiritual autobiography creates a world in which reason and faith have transformed moral and social chaos into order. It is one of the most important works in the literature of Western Europe and is considered the greatest poem of the European Middle Ages.
Customer Reviews of Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: This is the Edition to Own
Review: What can one say about the Divine Comedy? It's one of the greatest epic poems, and influenced literature immensely. Though it was forgotten for a while, 19th century Romantic poets "re-discovered" it; James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and Samuel Becket are among those who were in debt to the work. Further, the Divine Comedy has made a huge impact on popular culture and imagination. First, the image that the vast majority of people have of hell; of a place under the earth with red demons and fiery pits where sinners are tortured, largely comes from Dante. In addition, we have seen references to the Divine Comedy all around us in popular culture- references in books (Anne Rice, T.S. Eliot, Larry Niven), music (Nirvana, Mark Hoppus, Zao), and art (Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Dore, Salvador Dali)- and these are just a few. If you read the book, you will have an excellent foundation for understanding literature and popular culture.
Now why do I say that this is the edition to own? Three reasons. First, because John Ciardi's poetic translation is beautiful; there's a reason that his translation is the most commonly used in schools. Second, since Divine Comedy is a single work, it makes sense to have all 3 parts in one volume, which this edition does. Third, the footnotes and introductory summaries before each canto will help the reader immensely. The only thing missing from this edition is Gustave Dore's brilliant illustrations (though I believe they're available in a separate book).
Don't be intimidated by the length of the book. If you commit yourself to a small amount- say, reading 3 cantos a day- then you will get through it easily. And it will be well worth the effort.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Understandable
Review: This is a great translation of Dante. I've read a few translations of The Inferno - once in high school and a different one in college. This one was far clearer and had better notes that either of them. Also, I am a fan of hardcovers for books such as this - ones that you intend to keep around.
The story itself is fascinating - Dante's view of the afterlife, filled with beautiful literary devices. In the Inferno, for example, he will discuss different circles of hell, with different degrees of punishment, reserved for different sinners. The retribution that the sinners face always reflects their sins on earth.
For example, he visits those who have taken their own life. They are turned into trees and are mute - that is unless a branch is broken. In that case, they are able to speak through their blood while it flows. So, as they used their blood to say their final words to the world, so they can only use that as their means to communicate in hell.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Abysmal Translation, Good Notes
Review: Reading this book gave one the impression that they could well sympathize with Hannibal's troops as they crossed the alps--one sets out with an obstensibly noble mission, but encounters massive casualties along the way.
Sisson's vers libre provides the vacuum within the bog. If the Divine Comedy is poetry, the Divine Comedy this is not. Poetry turned mundane.
However, his 235 pages of endnotes are massively helpful. The Divine Comedy was, in part, an exercise in commentary concerning contemporary politics. This veritable iceberg of symbolism's main bulk remains unseen without a strong dose of explanation for each page. Sisson offers the needed notes.
All things considered, a mixed-bag. An abysmal translation in text of this length is akin to adding the chains of Dickens's Marley onto the reader. Formidable scholarship regarding explanation of symbolism is, for the reader, analogous to Bouchard's discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Divine Comedy
Review: I found the cd very close to the book but abriged. I recommended even if you can't get thought the book which is difficult
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The need for Quality Assurance ???
Review: Dante stands alongside Shakespeare, Milton, & T.S Eliot et al. as one of the most profound minds and thinkers of our shared culture and history. Whilst the recording does not capture the tone and poetic sensibilities of Dante, It is tragic to say the least that anyone can publish a review - in particular those who can not even read (See Annie Feng's review). I think there is a need for some form of Quality Assurance to ensure that those who can appreciate art (regardless of their religious or philosophical stance) can read reviews that are of a genuine critical nature that understand something of the historical and literary context of a particular work rather than just bigoted condemnations !!! A good way of doing this would be to note the number of people who find a particular review helpful -
It is important to note that 0 out of 3 found Annie Fengs review of help !!! (good to see Annie gave the Angel DVD series 5 stars - i think this speaks for itself).
Could Annie and people like her please stick to the Angel series or at least learn to read - are u really over 13 years of age Annie ???
Review Summary: This is the Edition to Own
Review: What can one say about the Divine Comedy? It's one of the greatest epic poems, and influenced literature immensely. Though it was forgotten for a while, 19th century Romantic poets "re-discovered" it; James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and Samuel Becket are among those who were in debt to the work. Further, the Divine Comedy has made a huge impact on popular culture and imagination. First, the image that the vast majority of people have of hell; of a place under the earth with red demons and fiery pits where sinners are tortured, largely comes from Dante. In addition, we have seen references to the Divine Comedy all around us in popular culture- references in books (Anne Rice, T.S. Eliot, Larry Niven), music (Nirvana, Mark Hoppus, Zao), and art (Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Dore, Salvador Dali)- and these are just a few. If you read the book, you will have an excellent foundation for understanding literature and popular culture.
Now why do I say that this is the edition to own? Three reasons. First, because John Ciardi's poetic translation is beautiful; there's a reason that his translation is the most commonly used in schools. Second, since Divine Comedy is a single work, it makes sense to have all 3 parts in one volume, which this edition does. Third, the footnotes and introductory summaries before each canto will help the reader immensely. The only thing missing from this edition is Gustave Dore's brilliant illustrations (though I believe they're available in a separate book).
Don't be intimidated by the length of the book. If you commit yourself to a small amount- say, reading 3 cantos a day- then you will get through it easily. And it will be well worth the effort.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Understandable
Review: This is a great translation of Dante. I've read a few translations of The Inferno - once in high school and a different one in college. This one was far clearer and had better notes that either of them. Also, I am a fan of hardcovers for books such as this - ones that you intend to keep around.
The story itself is fascinating - Dante's view of the afterlife, filled with beautiful literary devices. In the Inferno, for example, he will discuss different circles of hell, with different degrees of punishment, reserved for different sinners. The retribution that the sinners face always reflects their sins on earth.
For example, he visits those who have taken their own life. They are turned into trees and are mute - that is unless a branch is broken. In that case, they are able to speak through their blood while it flows. So, as they used their blood to say their final words to the world, so they can only use that as their means to communicate in hell.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Abysmal Translation, Good Notes
Review: Reading this book gave one the impression that they could well sympathize with Hannibal's troops as they crossed the alps--one sets out with an obstensibly noble mission, but encounters massive casualties along the way.
Sisson's vers libre provides the vacuum within the bog. If the Divine Comedy is poetry, the Divine Comedy this is not. Poetry turned mundane.
However, his 235 pages of endnotes are massively helpful. The Divine Comedy was, in part, an exercise in commentary concerning contemporary politics. This veritable iceberg of symbolism's main bulk remains unseen without a strong dose of explanation for each page. Sisson offers the needed notes.
All things considered, a mixed-bag. An abysmal translation in text of this length is akin to adding the chains of Dickens's Marley onto the reader. Formidable scholarship regarding explanation of symbolism is, for the reader, analogous to Bouchard's discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Divine Comedy
Review: I found the cd very close to the book but abriged. I recommended even if you can't get thought the book which is difficult
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The need for Quality Assurance ???
Review: Dante stands alongside Shakespeare, Milton, & T.S Eliot et al. as one of the most profound minds and thinkers of our shared culture and history. Whilst the recording does not capture the tone and poetic sensibilities of Dante, It is tragic to say the least that anyone can publish a review - in particular those who can not even read (See Annie Feng's review). I think there is a need for some form of Quality Assurance to ensure that those who can appreciate art (regardless of their religious or philosophical stance) can read reviews that are of a genuine critical nature that understand something of the historical and literary context of a particular work rather than just bigoted condemnations !!! A good way of doing this would be to note the number of people who find a particular review helpful -
It is important to note that 0 out of 3 found Annie Fengs review of help !!! (good to see Annie gave the Angel DVD series 5 stars - i think this speaks for itself).
Could Annie and people like her please stick to the Angel series or at least learn to read - are u really over 13 years of age Annie ???