Customer Reviews

Inferno: The Longfellow Translation

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I have read and taught several different translations of Dante's Inferno, but I was not aware that Longfellow had been the first to translate it into English. Although it is not written in Terza Rima, it is a beautiful, flowing and elegant rendition of Dante the Pilgrim's descent through the nine levels of hell. I teach Inferno in college, and although my books are ordered for this semester, I intend use the Longfellow translation for the next course.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is the man most responsible for bringing Dante to the new world, where The Divine Comedy had long been held as superstitious Catholic hogwash by the largely Protestant population that settled here. In translating the Comedy and bringing into respectable circles in the United States, Longfellow not only reintroduced a great poet to a lost audience but created a great translation himself.

Longfellow's is not the best translation of Dante's work, but it is one of the finest as a poem in its own right. The language is stilted and difficult at times to the modern ear, but its tone and grandeur are perfect for capturing the vision of the world's greatest poet. This is a good introduction to Dante for the student and the casual reader alike. Longfellow's notes are good, but not great. Look to another edition, like Mark Musa's or Charles Singleton's, for more extensive notes.

Highly recommended.

I'd just like to point out that notwithstanding the reviewer below, Longefellow was not the first to do an English translation of Dante. That was Rev. Henry Cary's black verse version, published 1810 (?). Readers who are looking for accuracy should check out John Singleton's prose translation with extensive commentary, but in my opinion Longfellow's version is the most satisfying overall. In only makes sense: Longfellow had the most innate talent of all Dante's English translators (at least that I've read).

If you like old english style reading, pick up this version
of Dante's Inferno by Longfellow. One of the most enjoyable
classic in the modern era.

This a a great companion for Pearl's Dante Club. Keep it close by.