Inferno: From the Divine Comedy [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Dante Alighieri (Author), Heathcote Williams (Narrator), Benedict Flynn (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2005

Originally released on 3 CDs in abridged form. Now available on 4 CDs unabridged. "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 lead 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 audiobook, his images are as vivid as when the poem was first written in the early years of the 14th century. With music of the period.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

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. The CDs are accompanied by detailed notes that outline the action of each canto and provide information on classical and biblical references. The notes also include reproductions of Gustave Doré's famous illustrations. 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." R.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks; Unabridged edition (February 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9626343176
• ISBN-13: 978-9626343173
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #825,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, May 13, 2008

By 

MikeJ "M H" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inferno: From the Divine Comedy (Audio CD)

I had trouble with some of Dantes english translations of the book when I was reading them. And some parts were hard to understand. But this audio book is the absolute best I have heard. I can easily understand and the special effects of the people in hell talking and the demons are wonderful. At the begining of each canto there is a musical theme that sets the person in the mood before the canto starts. Heathcote Williams voice is a delight to hear because it is so articulate and scholastic. Wonderful audio book of The Divine Comedy who want to bring the book alive and suspensful. At times I was very emotionally effected by the certain sinners in hell and how they suffered. I myself am a Catholic(which Dante was a devout Catholic), and I could see where some people would disagree with parts of the book (In the Inferno if you are not baptized you have no chance to goto heaven according to Dante, but the unbaptized don't suffer the way worse sinners would). But it the same time it shows the importance of Baptism, which some Christians today seem to ignore and just take as a "symbol". Either way for christians and non-christians alike this audio book is wonderful.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Translation & Reading, September 15, 2011

By 

W. H. Pugmire "I never can be tied to raw, ne... (Sesqua Valley) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inferno: From the Divine Comedy (Audio CD)

I have the entire set of this reading of THE DIVINE COMEDY, and I am extremely impressed. I was dubious, at first, as I had never heard of the translator, Benedict Flynn, and so I compared the text to that of the Durling/Martinez volume from Oxford and the Hollander volume from Doubleday. I was impressed. This is an excellent translation, smooth and poetic. I have a slight prejudice in that I prefer British voices in poetic readings, and thus I am very pleased with Heathcote Williams' fine performance of the text. He dramatizes the text with certain vocal inflections, but he does so in a way that does not, for me, distract from the actual beauty of Dante's poetry. I like his soft and at time breathy vocal tones, which add a subtle emotionalism to much of the text.

The booklet that accompanies the discs is fabulous. An opening Note by Roger Marsh is followed by Notes discussing aspect of the text, thus:

"CANTO III
The Poets arrive at the door of Hell and pass through to the antechamber. Within are shades who achieved neither praise nor blame in life, rejected by Heaven and Hell. Charon, who ferries the souls of the damned to Hades, refuses to ferry the living souls across the Acheron. Dante falls unconscious.

good of intellect: souls who lost sight of the 'Supreme Truth' of God.
great refusal: either Pontius Pilate or Celestine V who abdicated in favour of Boniface VIII."

The booklet is infused with a gallery of the majestic Gustave Dore illustrations for THE DIVINE COMEDY.

I love this audio set and highly recommend it.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs better voume leveling, September 26, 2008

By 

M. Perry "club_dumas" (Triad, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inferno: From the Divine Comedy (Audio CD)

There are many positives to this product; good transitions between cantos, clear articulation, and excellent liner notes. For me though, there is one huge negative that out-weighs them. When the reader takes the role of the cast of tormented souls, he yells. The difference in volume between the narrator and these characters is so great that I have to keep adjusting the volume. And being damned creatures, the yelling is very harsh and guttural. Constant volume adjustments while driving is not enjoyable.

I have stopped listening and am looking for another version to continue.