Inferno (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Bantam Classics (Pb)) [School & Library Binding]

Dante Alighieri (Author), Barry Moser (Illustrator), Allen Mandelbaum (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0808509578 | ISBN-13: 978-0808509578 | Publication Date: December 1, 1992

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. An informative introduction and commentary accompany this classic translation of Dante's epic poem about a spiritual pilgrim being led by Virgil through the nine circles of hell, available in a dual-language edition.

Product Details

• School & Library Binding: 395 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (December 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0808509578
• ISBN-13: 978-0808509578
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,523,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing translation of a classic, October 8, 2002

By 

Sinthetik Devil (Garden Grove, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inferno (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Bantam Classics (Pb)) (School & Library Binding)

The Circles of hell come to life in this verse translation by Allen Mendelbaum. Mendelbaum won a National Book Award for his translation of "The Aeneid of Virgil", and his translation of Dante's Inferno is equally superb.

The format of the book is italian and english, with translated pages on the opposite of the italian verses. There are some great illustrations throughout the book, but it is the imagery created in your head that makes this such a great read.

Highly recommended. I have read other translated versions of Inferno, and this is by far the best I have read so far. An excellent book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superior Edition of "Inferno" Available in English, December 2, 2005

By 

Mark Lee (Woodruff, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inferno (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Bantam Classics (Pb)) (School & Library Binding)

I've read a couple of editions of Dante's "The Divine Comedy," but as far as the "Inferno/Hell" part of the trilogy is concerned, this is the only one I've read for the last half decade.

Alex Mandelbaum, then of the City University of New York, has given us a translation in English that is modern, yet retains the structure that lends the regal, somewhat alien feel of Alighieri's poetry. He sets the stage nicely in his introduction in which he reviews the person of Dante Alighieri and the work about to be presented. Next, Mandelbaum provides us the Cantos from "Inferno" with Alighieri's Italian on the left and his translation on the right. The text is annotated with references to endnotes for those interested. The haunting artwork of Barry Moser accompanies us, along with Dante and Virgil, on our trip through the rings of hell.

At the end of the translation are two articles, "Dante in His Age," a sort of contextual biography, and a critical article entitled "Dante as Ancient and Modern." Finally, there is the endnote material with useful expository information for those inclined to understand Dante's "Inferno" better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Better Translations, June 27, 2005

By 

Matt Benecke (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inferno (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Bantam Classics (Pb)) (School & Library Binding)

Dante's Inferno is a truly magnificent piece of art that is deserving of an equally magnificent translation. For those of us who are unable to translate on our own, Allen Mandelbaum does a superb job of it on his own. Having both languages set side by side gives the reader a unique perspective and allows the reader to get a better feel for the flow of the poem.

The notes and asides that are provided are helpful but the essays at the end of each chapter leave something to be desired. If you are simply reading The Inferno for the pleasure of it then this is the version to get. If you are a scholar who is attempting to get a better understanding of Dante and his works than you may be better off finding a different version.