The divine comedy: Paradise

by Dante Alighieri

Other authorsEdward Moore (Editor), Harry Bennett (Illustrator), Louis Leopold Biancolli (Translator)

Paper Book, 1966

Status

Available

Publication

New York, Washington Square Press [1966]

Description

In Paradise, having plunged to the uttermost depths of Hell and climbed the Mount of Purgatory, Dante ascends to Heaven, continuing his soul's search for God, guided by his beloved Beatrice. As he progresses through the spheres of Paradise he grows in understanding, until he finally experiences divine love in the radiant presence of the deity. Examining eternal questions of faith, desire and enlightenment, Dante exercised all his learning and wit, wrath and tenderness in his creation of one of the greatest of all Christian allegories.

Media reviews

The New Yorker

Review of Hollander translation

User reviews

LibraryThing member selfcallednowhere

Eh, this book was the least interesting of [book: The Divine Comedy] to me. Like [book: Purgatorio], it had some beautiful imagery, but just got pretty boring.

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LibraryThing member Mithalogica

(Review is of the Penguin Classics translation by Mark Musa, and applies to all three volumes, Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradisio)

I would not think to quibble with reviewing Dante himself - Dante is a master, and doesn't need my endorsement. I will say, however, that Musa's translation is an

exceptionally sensitive one, and his comprehensive notes are an invaluable aid to the reader less familiar with Dante's broad spheres of reference. Musa is clearly a devoted scholar of Dante, and his concern for Dante's original meaning and tone is evident. This is one of the best translations of The Comedia available.

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LibraryThing member drbrand

He who casts off from shore to fish for truth
without the necessary skill does not return the same
as he sets out, but worse, and all in vain.

I enjoyed this final installment of the Divine Comedy, but I have to confess that it was my least favorite of the trilogy. The translation was nice, though

lacking in some of the character and charm of Pinsky's Inferno and Merwin's Purgatorio (I didn't read the Hollanders' translation of the first two books). I just wasn't as engrossed in Dante's journey to the Empyrean. This is probably simply a failing on my part—or at least a mark against my literary sensibilities.

While occasionally overwhelming and tedious, the notes were copious and often very helpful. It would be interesting to see another contemporary poet of the caliber of Pinsky or Merwin translate this final installment someday.

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LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn

The Divine Comedy epitomized medieval attitudes. From historical perspectives, this work serves as a window into the mentality of late middle ages in Italy, on the brink of the Renaissance. Scholastic thinking informs Dante's approach.

LibraryThing member dgrayson

As I recall, this one kind of dragged. Or maybe it got a bit too religious for me.

LibraryThing member lriley

Of the 3 parts this is the least interesting. I know Dante comes from the 13th and 14th centuries and this may seem unfair but it left me with visions of Mussolini styled fascist spectacles. Too overwrought and too syncophantic for my blood--what is left is Dante's talent and beautiful use of

language which is something but going to Hell and Purgatory is a lot more worthwhile than going to Heaven in this case.

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LibraryThing member BenjaminHahn

Although, the weakest of the three, Paradiso is still quite amazing for its portrayal of heaven in all its layered complexity. Naturally it is not as vexing or interesting at Purgatorio or Hell but still interesting to see who Dante wanted to place there. Plus, the ending is just hilarious. Again,

this translation is great. The Hollander's have outdone themselves. I wonder what they do now.

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LibraryThing member flmcgough

I have not read a huge number of translations of Dante, but of the one's that I've read Musa's is by far the best. Extremely readable but also quite complex. I would recommend this translation to anyone.

LibraryThing member Karlstar

I started this but couldn't finish it, I really need to get back to it. Unlike the other books, it just seemed like the personalities weren't as interesting ,and I guess the rewards just weren't as interesting as the punishments....

LibraryThing member mlsimmons

I listened to this book on CD instead of actually reading it. The version that I had had an explination at the beginning of each verse to help you understand and then read the verse.

In this book, you travel with Dante as he assins to Heaven through the skies.

I really did not liked this book.

There is a lot of astrology in this book (which I did not expect). I did not really understand this book (I have several people tell me that I understand the other two parts of The Divine Comedy better because I live my life more on the sinful side **laughs**). I just did not like it. I would not recommend this, though others might understand it better than me.

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LibraryThing member chibitika

I'm rating this format, not the work itself: Lousy. No illustrations at all. Shame on Amazon for this.

LibraryThing member lissabeth21

I wish I had liked this as much as I enjoyed the first two books of The Divine Comedy.

LibraryThing member TobinElliott

I found I enjoyed each of these sets of 36 cantos less and less. This last group just felt...mind-numbing. I'm trying to determine if they were the most overtly religious of the three sets.

I liked the "spheres of heaven" aspect, but really the rest of it just left me cold.

LibraryThing member comfypants

A poet takes a tour of the heavens.

1/4 (Bad).

I gave up a little under halfway through. The first two books were boring, but they were at least about someone going somewhere and seeing things that were, in some sense, happening. This is just a list of dead people, many of whom give speeches.

(Apr.

2022)

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