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Inferno: From The Divine Comedy

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Inferno: From The Divine Comedy

By: Dante Alighieri, Benedict Flynn - translator
Narrated by: Heathcote Williams
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About this listen

"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 Classics Poetry Emotionally Gripping Funny Middle Ages

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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)
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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.

Fantastic audiobook

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Heathcote Williams does a superlative job of bringing Dante’s Inferno to our ears. Flynn’s translation is however, not the one I favour most, preferring Instead Anthony Esolen’s or that of the Hollanders. Sometimes, Flynn’s translation is inexplicably different to the Italian. Leaving the translation aside, the production value of this recording is also superb, and William’s performance is masterful, adding just the right interpretation and emotion to the different characters and really drawing us into the journey and this infernal world.

Excellent narration/performance

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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.

Enjoyable, entertaining and educational

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Narration is great. Medieval music is a nice touch, it really good atmospheric.
For those of us who dont understand italian
Enjoyable,

Delightful

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wonderfully read by the actor. the translation is easy to understand and follow. music is traditional and adds to the atmosphere

Beautifully read and accessible translation

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