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Inferno: From The Divine Comedy cover art

Inferno: From The Divine Comedy

By: Dante Alighieri,Benedict Flynn - translator
Narrated by: Heathcote Williams
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Summary

"Abandon all hope you who enter here." ("Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch’intrate.") Dante’s Hell is one of the most remarkable visions in Western literature. An allegory for his and future ages, it is, at the same time, an account of terrifying realism. Passing under a lintel emblazoned with these frightening words, the poet is led down into the depths by Virgil and shown those doomed to suffer eternal torment for vices exhibited and sins committed on earth.

Inferno is the first part of the long journey which continues through redemption to revelation - through Purgatory and Paradise - and, in this translation, prepared especially for the audiobook, his images are as vivid as when the poem was first written in the early years of the 14th century.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Public Domain (P)2004 Naxos AudioBooks

Critic reviews

"Actor and writer Heathcote Williams gives a masterful performance of Benedict Flynn's blank verse translation. Williams modulates his smooth baritone into different characters, maintaining an even pace through this classic work. The cantos are punctuated by short selections of music ranging from Gregorian chant to Renaissance dance music.... A plaintive horn sounds the beginning of Inferno, the beginning of Dante's journey from The Gloomy Wood to the Circles of Hell. Dante begins alone in a fog of seeking and confusion until he encounters the shade of Virgil. When the poets begin the descent at the beginning of Canto Three, Williams's booming voice is technologically enhanced to create an echo for the famous line, "Abandon all hope, you who enter here." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Inferno: From The Divine Comedy

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable, entertaining and educational

Good translation well read. This is a fascinating encyclopaedic tour through the 13th century mindset, so keep that in mind. If you're looking for something a bit more fast paced the BBC dramatisation of the abridged whole Divine Comedy (also available on Audible) might be a better place to start.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant

I listened to each canto several times and enjoyed it immensely. They are read with feeling and do well to highlight the different characters speaking. I strongly recommend listening to it in parallel with the explanatory work by Mark Vernon which he released in 2021, also on Audible. Mark goes through each canto and explains what is going on - what Dante is referencing and how scholars have interpreted the allegory. The combination of both really helped me think about what sin is and why it pushes us away from God.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Almost a perfect translation

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Dante's Divine Comedy is the keystone of European literature. It was the first important work composed in a modern language, and it is a book that almost every serious writer has read and been influenced by.
If you want to understand poetry, or drama, or novels, or film, or opera - you need to read Dante at some stage (and the younger you first read him, the better).
If all you ever read is till receipts, you can probably get along without him.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inferno: From The Divine Comedy?

Francesca da Rimini and Ugolino are the two moments everybody remembers. Me too.

What about Heathcote Williams’s performance did you like?

There are some very odd translations of The Divine Comedy into English. Dorothy Sayers writes like nobody ever spoke, while Longfellow manages to be as obscure as he is inaccurate.
Flynn has translated Dante into natural idiomatic English, which leaves the poetry to stand naked. Heathcote Williams delivery is nuanced but not lapel-tugging:- a perfect complement to Flynn's understated excellence.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I'm always tickle by how when Vergil arrives at the gate to Purgatory, he wanders off into a private conversation with Cato (ignoring Dante completely for half the canto).
It's always fun when the characters cut free of the book, but this is one of the most amusing examples of that.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb narration of this literary masterpiece.

What sets this version apart from all others Is the extraordinary narration by Heathcote Williams. I have to say that it is one of the best I have ever heard. Today I looked for a contact address for him in order to congratulate him but found, to my great sadness, that he has died.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Bravo!

A wonderful performance. The translation is accessible and attractive to listen to. It is read at a pace which allows you appreciate the text. The reader is superb! His interpretation of the work is excellent and it is a pleasure to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Annoying sound balance

Readin was great, sadly when chapter changed they have instrument playing that is was way higher volume.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

amazing except for the constant intro music

the performances and narration was great, the audio can sometimes feature some birds chirping or the faint and distant sound of an overhead plane. The only real issue for me was the unique medieval intro music that plays at the opening of every single chapter. it has no real theme apart from being operatic or olde' timey'. maybe I'm missing something but I can't see the point of it, other than to distract or to mark the chapter... it got on my nerves since some chapters are very short.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Must hear - an absolute classic

Beautifully delivered. Just about to listen to it a second time as one has to pay attention. still so relevant to today. Loved it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic audiobook

I often rate books 5 stars on their own merits, but by gosh this is an excellent 5 stars… narration and musical interludes set a highly compelling scene here - I really enjoyed this telling, and will definitely seek out others in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric and immersive

I thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric and immersive performance of Dante’s Inferno - I found the translation fresh and lively, and the music really enhanced the atmosphere, making for a wonderful experience all round.

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1 person found this helpful