Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Hell

Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.6

Word count: 209K words
Chapters: 21

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Hell by Dante AlighieriAuthor: Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321,Language: English, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Aug 1, 1997

Editor's review

This is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's English translation of Inferno, the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy, released by Project Gutenberg as a free eBook. Longfellow's translation has been influential in the English-speaking world, employing a relatively elegant poetic style that suits readers who wish to experience the rhythm and imagery of Inferno's poetry. This electronic edition is convenient for searching, excerpting, and comparative reading, and is also useful for observing how different translations handle the same passages. When reading, pay attention to the hierarchical structure of sin and punishment, the role of the guide Virgil, and the many metaphors involving historical and political figures. Because this is a public-domain English translation lacking modern annotations, it is advisable to use it alongside introductory materials or an annotated edition. Suitable for course support, rereading the classics, and translation comparison; not recommended as the sole introductory version for complete beginners.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers who wish to read Inferno from the Divine Comedy in English verse
Students who need a public-domain electronic text for translation comparison or course reading
Readers interested in Western classical poetry and the imagery of Hell
Readers with English proficiency willing to study the classic alongside annotations

Not a good fit for

Readers who only read Chinese and are unfamiliar with English poetic syntax
Beginners who need detailed modern annotations and systematic introductions
Readers who prefer light popular reading and lack interest in religious allusions

Reading tips

First understand the nine-circle structure and classification of sins in Inferno, then read chapter by chapter.
For each circle, note the correspondence between the punished and their punishments for easy review.
Compare the same passages with other English translations, such as Cary's, to appreciate differences in poetic handling.
When encountering dense allusions, skip them first; after finishing, return with annotations or an encyclopedia.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this the Chinese version or the English version?

This is an English translation, using Longfellow's English rendering; it is not a Chinese version. The original is in Italian, and this eBook presents it in English verse, suitable for readers with English reading ability.

Is Longfellow's translation suitable for beginners?

Not entirely suitable for complete beginners. Longfellow's poetic syntax is relatively elegant, and this electronic edition lacks modern annotations; beginners would do best to read it alongside introductory materials or an annotated print edition.

Do Inferno and Purgatorio need to be read in order?

The three parts of the Divine Comedy have an overall ascending structure, and reading in the order Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso makes the threads easier to follow. Reading Inferno alone is also viable, but understanding the subsequent direction is more helpful.

Does this electronic edition include annotations and an introduction?

According to the information, this is a public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, with no indication that modern annotations or an introduction are included. Readers are advised to prepare background materials separately or use it alongside an annotated edition.

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About the author

Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321 Author

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) is one of the most important poets in the history of Italian literature, renowned for the Divine Comedy. The library holds 61 of his works, including multiple editions and translations of the Divine Comedy, such as Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Publicly available information about the details of his life is limited, so no speculation is offered here. His writing is distinguished by a grand narrative structure and a profound symbolic system, often presenting a first-person journey through the three realms and weaving medieval theology, philosophy, and political thought into verse. His language is concise and rich in imagery, and his works have had a far-reaching influence on later European literature, widely regarded as foundational to Italian literary language.