In the early 1300s, Dante Alighieri set out to write the three volumes which make the up The Divine Comedy. Purgatorio is the second volume in this set and opens with Dante the poet picturing Dante the pilgrim coming out of the pit of hell. Similar to the Inferno (34 cantos), this volume is divided into 33 cantos, written in tercets (groups of 3 lines). The English prose is arranged in tercets to facilitate easy correspondence to the verse form of the Italian on the facing page, enabling the reader to follow both languages line by line. In an effort to capture the peculiarities of Dante's original language, this translation strives toward the literal and sheds new light on the shape of the poem. Again the text of Purgatorio follows Petrocchi's La Commedia secondo l'antica vulgata, but the editor has departed from Petrocchi's readings in a number of cases, somewhat larger than in the previous Inferno, not without consideration of recent critical readings of the Comedy by scholars such as Lanza (1995, 1997) and Sanguineti (2001). As before, Petrocchi's punctuation has been lightened and American norms have been followed. However, without any pretensions to being "critical", the text presented here is electic and being not persuaded of the exclusive authority of any manuscript, the editor has felt free to adopt readings from various branches of the stemma. One major addition to this second volume is in the notes, where is found the Intercantica - a section for each canto that discusses its relation to the Inferno and which will make it easier for the reader to relate the different parts of the Comedy as a whole.
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This new edition provides a powerful example of how a sensitive handling of the material can enhance our reading of the poem, rather than entice us with the illusory prospect of fully grasping its meaning. The book's great virtue is that its focus is the poem itself, in the original. (Matthew Treherne, Times Literary Supplement )
Durling and Martinez handle the scholarship with just the lightness of touch that is required. Nowhere is this clearer than in their treatment of the theology of the Purgatorio. (Matthew Treherne, Times Literary Supplement )
... this book makes the case that we should approach the poem in the spirit of the Italian word "peregrini", as travellers in meaningful search. We are richer for it. (Matthew Treherne, Times Literary Supplement )
Durling and Martinez handle the scholarship with just the lightness of touch that is required. Nowhere is this clearer than in their treatment of the theology of the Purgatorio. (Matthew Treherne, Times Literary Supplement )
... this book makes the case that we should approach the poem in the spirit of the Italian word "peregrini", as travellers in meaningful search. We are richer for it. (Matthew Treherne, Times Literary Supplement )
About the Author
Robert M. Durling is Professor Emeritus of English and Italian Literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Ronald L. Martinez is Professor of Italian at the University of Minnesota. Their works together include Dante's Inferno and Time and the Crystal: Studies in Dante's "Rime petrose."
Robert Turner has been a professional illustrator for more than 20 years. He works at the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe.
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To run through better waters the little ship of my wit now hoists its sails, leaving behind it a sea so cruel, and I will sing of that second realm where the human spirit purges itself and becomes worthy to ascend to Heaven. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
To run through better waters the little ship of my wit now hoists its sails, leaving behind it a sea so cruel, and I will sing of that second realm where the human spirit purges itself and becomes worthy to ascend to Heaven. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Billy
Format:Paperback
This epic poem is unlike anything else. Fascinating read, it encorporates everything it is to be human: the struggle, determination, love, fear the list goes on. I primarily selected this poem for my Italian and English exams at A level, although when I finished the book I realised I should have read it ages ago! Over the summer I'll definitely read the other two parts to the Divine Commedy, although this poem stands alone in my opnion. The english translation on opposite sides of the page to the original italian is very helpful and obviously a necessity if you can't speak old italian. I would highly reccomend reading the commentary after every Canto as this helps to understand the meaning behind the metaphors. Great read, definitely reccomend it to everyone!
6 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By J .Skerrett
Format:Paperback
From the trilogy 'The Divine Commedy', this is undoubtedly my personal favourite. After the drama and power of the Inferno, and before the ethereal, dogmatic Paradiso comes this wonderful transition. Dante celebrates the human spirit, with its faults but mostly its hope, and human fraternity.
The subject is treated with gentleness and tenderness, despite the fact that the souls there are being punished. I found in it the most moving moment of the whole Comedy, when Virgil leaves Dante. It is then, in the last few canti, that Dante meets Beatrice and must turn his focus to more heavenly matters.
John D. Sinclair recognises this human poignancy throughout and since Sinclair treats the whole Comedy as personal to Dante, and his life, in his commentary, this edition is particularly suitable for an appreciation of Dante's ideas in the Purgatorio - 'the reordering of love'.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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11 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!!!
10 Jan 1999
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Unbelieveable!!! This book was without a doubt one of the best and most amazing books in Western Literature. This part of the Divine Comedy was incredible, especially when you consider that Dante almost completely invented the image of Purgatory!! Some people say that after they read the Inferno that this part is not quite so good. I have to disagree. I found this part of the Comedy to be just as gripping and amazing as the Inferno. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE TO READ AT ALL!!!!!
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