Dante's Divine Comedy: Paradise (v. 3) [Hardcover]

Kathryn Ann Lindskoog (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dante's Divine Comedy | Publication Date: September 1, 1998

The Divine Comedy is perhaps the greatest Christian classic ever written, and probably the greatest adveture story ever told. Dante wrote it to entertain, guide, and enrich ordinary readers, not just the intellectual elite. This clear new version with unique aids makes the fascinating story accessible to such readers today.

Those who love Dante best as a storyteller and teacher will find in this book what they have been waiting for...the freshest, clearest, most exact, and most readable Divine Comedy in the English language, with full-page illustrations and original notes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A highly readable edition that adds a variety of new material, supplemented by references to Dorothy Sayers, C. S. Lewis, and many other Dante commentators." -- New York Review

"Kathryn Lindskoog's retelling of the _Comedy_ is an English rendering of poignant, poetic beauty.

"The greatest insight Lindskoog has, not only into Paradise but into the entire Comedy, is that is is a "journey of joy." The joy of the redeemed was Dante's great gift to his time, and Lindskoog has made it new for our own, which has desperate need of it." -- Living Church

"_Dante's Divine Comedy_ by Kathryn Lindskoog is a delight to read. This is definitely a reader-friendly retelling of Dante's Christian classic. The original Divine Comedy was written in terza rima, a closely rhymed form of Italian poetry. This version is written in clear and flowing modern English prose, which at times is suggestive of poetry. The reader is given easy-to-follow footnotes, providing historical background and interpretation that make the book readily understandable and enjoyable." -- Marjorie W. Avery, The C.S. Lewis Centenary Group

About the Author

Kathryn Lindskoog earned degrees from the University of Redlands and California State University at Long Beach. She is the author of more than fifteen books that range from C.S. Lewis to _How to Grow a Young Reader_. Lindskoog resides in Orange, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Mercer University Press (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865545847
• ISBN-13: 978-0865545847
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This retelling of the Comedy superbly achieves its goal., April 15, 1999

By 

David M. Baumann (Placentia, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dante's Divine Comedy: Paradise (v. 3) (Hardcover)

At the time he was writing the Comedy nearly seven hundred years ago, Dante Alighieri intended to present to ordinary people the eternal Christian truths of damnation, redemption, and salvation in a work of marvelous splendor. Today, most people are unfamiliar with these truths as they are wrapped in the images Dante used, and the hundreds of contemporary references which enrich the work have been lost to common memory. Kathryn Lindskoog's retelling of the Comedy superbly achieves Dantes aims for our age. She has created an English rendering of poignant, poetic beauty, both inspiring and accessible; and her thorough and detailed knowledge of Dante's life, work, and times comes through footnotes which are expertly written without being intrusive or condescending. The footnotes, alone an impressive accomplishment, afford even a casual reader with sufficient background to the personalities and events of Dante's day which are vital for understanding his work. However, the greatest insight Lindskoog has, not only into Paradise but into the entire Comedy, is that it is a "journey to joy." Her use of these words as the subtitle shows that the Christian Way, so often caricatured as being restrictive, threatening, punishing, or opiative, is rather always to be seen as the Way to the radiant and invincible joy of eternal communion with God. This is the deep and abiding, guiding principle in the Comedy which Lindskoog recognized and never lost sight of. In Paradise, the joy of the redeemed comes through Lindskoog's rendering with almost painful incandescence. This was the great gift of Dante to his time, and Lindskoog has made it new for our own, which has desperate need of it.

By David M. Baumann

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucid editing provides a thrilling excursion, April 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dante's Divine Comedy: Paradise (v. 3) (Hardcover)

I'm sure I must have given up on my original copy of DIVINE COMEDY after "Inferno." But the lucid editing of this edition, with abundant footnotes, make clear and easy that which I could never decipher. With Virgil, Beatrice & Kathryn leading the way, the trip through Inferno, Purgatory & Paradise was a thrilling excursion.