The Divine Comedy, Vol. 2: Purgatory [Paperback]

Dante Alighieri (Author), Mark Musa (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 1985

Beginning with Dante's liberation from Hell, "Purgatory" relates his ascent, accompanied by Virgil, to the Mount of Purgatory - a mountain of nine levels, formed from rock forced upwards when God threw Satan into depths of the earth. As he travels through the first seven levels, Dante observes the sinners who are waiting for their release into Paradise, and through these encounters he is himself transformed into a stronger and better man. For, it is only when he has learned from each of these levels that he can ascend to the gateway to Heaven: the Garden of Eden. The second part of one of the greatest epic poems, "Purgatory" is an enthralling Christian allegory of sin, redemption and ultimate enlightenment.

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." -- The New York Review

"Kathryn Lindskoog's retelling of the _Comedy_ superbly achieves for our age the aims which Dante had for this masterpiece in his own age." -- Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"_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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, Italian (translation)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 399 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (February 5, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140444424
• ISBN-13: 978-0140444421
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Working Our Way Up, July 20, 2000

By 

Stacey M Jones (Conway, Ark.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Divine Comedy, Vol. 2: Purgatory (Paperback)

Inferno is the most famous of the trio of volumes of Dante's Divine Comedy. But don't stop there. Purgatory is a beautiful work, illustrating the rise of the human soul through Purgatory's nine ledges. I found it beautiful how the souls were not hurrying. They waited patiently, yet eagerly.

Musa's translation makes all the difference. The language is accessible, but not irreverent or vulgar. A routine I found helpful was to read the introduction to each canto, read the canto, then read all the notes, checking back to reinforce meanings or double check a name or place.

The Pilgrim's journey through this volume is heavily illustrative of God's grace, and yet the idea of each person's responsibilities to God are clear.

Don't stop reading after Inferno. These stirring translations by Musa make it possible to read, understand and love the whole Divine Comedy.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thoroughly Annotated Translation, April 20, 2001

By 

miked99 (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Divine Comedy, Vol. 2: Purgatory (Paperback)

This is the second volume of Alighieri Dante's classic Divine Comedy. It tells the tale of Dante's journey through Purgatory, led by his guide, Virgil. Having passed through the depths of Hell (the Inferno) in the first volume, Dante and Virgil ascend the mountain of Purgatory, passing its many allegorical characters and observing the penances they must fulfill. The Divine Comedy is a beautiful, epic poem that takes the reader through a wide emotional spectrum and many vivid, picturesque scenes from Dante's fictional afterlife.

This translation was wonderful. Each of the 33 Cantos (Chapters) is set up in this sequence: 1) a short summation by the translator, 2) the poem, and 3) notes on names, characters, and items referenced by Dante. The translator, Mark Musa, even explains in his notes when he has a differing interpretation of a word or phrase than other translators' have had.

Dante used so many references to Greek mythology and events that were common knowledge to educated people of the 13th-14th Century that this poem, without notes, is entirely esoteric and fully appreciated only by the most erudite modern-day readers. Mark Musa brings every reader up to par with his thorough, easily-read notes; thereby making this classic poem a very entertaining and profound experience.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dante Musa Style, July 28, 2005

By 

Harvey Spurlock (Conway, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Divine Comedy, Vol. 2: Purgatory (Paperback)

Mark Musa has produced an extremely readable translation of a text that at times can be next to inaccessible. As a non-Dante scholar, I have struggled with other translations. The notes accompanying each canto also are well done: thorough and very illuminating. Musa's deft pen has turned Purgatory into a pleasure.