Sorry for still being semi-philosophical, but this seemed the most fitting forum.
I’m considering purchasing Dante’s Divine Comedy - in English, since I assume English in this case as usual is prefereble in comparison to the oft inferiour Danish in terms of vocabulary and expression.
Although I’ve briefly browsed Amazon I have no clue what the best translation of the story is, none whatsoever.
A criterium is that the book has to be hardcover, especially convenient since some editions are 900-something pages long.
Since I am not aware of the different approaches, perhaps you could either suggests some translations with a description or sum up the approaches for me?
If you dont know why you want to read it then you aren’t going to have much luck. And why are you implying that I should have known you didn’t know why you want to read it?
Hi Niclas, These 6 English translations seem to be the most popular (in no special order). I would also ask the shop or library attendant for their recommendations.
* Abandon all hope, you who enter here (Robert Pinsky)
* Abandon every hope, all ye who enter (Mark Musa)
* All hope abandon, ye who enter here (H.F. Cary)
THIS ONE IS FREE from [gutenberg.org/etext/8800](http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8800)
* Leave all hope, ye that enter (Carlyle-Wicksteed)
* All hope abandon, ye who enter in! (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
* Abandon every hope, who enter here. (Allen Mandelbaum).
PS You can tell a lot by the translation of the title; some are more literal translations than others.
Enjoy
Dorothy Sayers translated the Penguin Putnam Publisher’s edition of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. I felt that her extra translator’s commentary sprikled throughout the book was helpfull.
Of course, Future Man is correct in his question the value of even reading the book in the first place. It is good if you are big into medival/rennaissance poetry, but that’s about it. It’s rather dry and long-winded at certain points.
Asking me such an abstract question why I would read a book? That’s so unfair!
Why do you want to read - certain - books?
I’ve always found mythology and creative stories compelling and Dante’s Divine Comedy seems to be one of them. At the same time it’s known as one of the greater books in the history of litterature.
Charles Singleton’s translation is my suggestion if you are reading out of general interest and if you have not read it before. It gives a fantastic glossary so you can actually get into the italian and the way the language works without having to know italian. He also gives a purely canto a canto stepping and it’s the best way to fall for the comedy without getting frustrated by the attempts Mandelbaum et al make at keeping strictly to poetry.
Dante’s Inferno was borrowed from the islamic ‘legend’ about Miraj and isra - the ascension. Check out “The Divine Comedy” - Miguel Asin… For example Beatrice takes the places of Angel Gabriel who ascended with him to the ‘heavens’.
As to who borrowed from who, well of course it’s the one later in time who borowed from the earlier one. Hence, it was Dante who borrowed from Islam.
If you dont know why you want to read it then you aren’t going to have much luck. And why are you implying that I should have known you didn’t know why you want to read it? 
