Paradise: From The Divine Comedy cover art

Paradise: From The Divine Comedy

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £14.99

Buy Now for £14.99

About this listen

"I have been in the Heaven that takes up most of his light, and saw things there that those who descend from that height cannot speak of or forget…."

Led by his guide, Beatrice, Dante leaves the Earth behind and soars through the heavenly spheres of Paradise. In this third and final part of The Divine Comedy, he encounters the just rulers and holy saints of the Church. The horrors of the Inferno and the trials of Purgatory are left far behind. Ultimately, in Paradise, Dante is granted a vision of God’s Heavenly court: the angels, the Blessed Virgin, and God Himself.

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 Funny

Editor reviews

This last 33 cantos of THE DIVINE COMEDY are a peaceful completion of the journey, perhaps too peaceful. British actor and playwright Williams’s narration of this section seems laid-back and somnolent. Heathcote Williams is solemn, his voice serious and low, as Dante and Beatrice ascend to Empyrean. The beauty of Paradise is subdued by Williams's quiet reverence but some lack of energy. Nevertheless, an audiobook edition is a welcome listening experience.

All stars
Most relevant
The whole of the Divine Comedy was performed stupendously by Heathcote Williams. Dante’s masterwork is so beautiful, and Williams does a tremendous job bringing it to life. His tones are moderated according to who’s speaking and the tone, so that in this volume his tones are mellifluous and calm to suit the setting of Paradise, whereas in the first part (Inferno) they were appropriately strident.
I really enjoyed this as an experience, which I’d like to repeat, and found myself enjoying this very much, the more so as I suspect I’d find it quite hard to read physically.
I got a lot out of this and would without reservation recommend this performance as interesting, thoughtful and atmospheric throughout.

Exquisite performance of a beautiful text

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wonderous imagination, fantastic delivery. What can I say…… this is Dante….like trying to critique Shakespeare, words are inadequate…such complexity and beauty……. I will listen again and again……..

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.