Play Audiobook Sample
The Divine Comedy: Inferno Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 41,068 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
The most famous of the three canticles that compose The Divine Comedy, "Inferno" describes Dante's descent into Hell midway through his life with Virgil as a guide. As he descends through nine concentric circles of increasingly agonizing torture, Dante encounters doomed souls that include the pagan Aeneas, the liar Odysseus, the suicidal Cleopatra, and his own political enemies, damned for their deceit. Led by leering demons, Dante must ultimately journey with Virgil to the deepest level of all—for it is only by encountering Satan himself, in the heart of Hell, that he can truly understand the tragedy of sin.
This version of the classic poem is the translation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poem's first American translator.
Download and start listening now!
"The Divine Comedy is a classic story of a man and a ghost's journey through Hell. Well, it's more of Dante Alighieri's representation of Hell. The book was very controversial for it's time and it still holds up 700 years later. Each ironic punishment is better then the last and they make you think twice about committing these sins. While some are obscure, others can still apply to this day and will stay in your memory."
— Charles (5 out of 5 stars)
The Divine Comedy: Inferno Listener Reviews
-
—
Matthew M. , 12/11/2022
-
" There was nothing funny about this book. I only made it to the 30th cantu of Inferno. "
— Geoff, 2/19/2014 -
" really had a hard time listening to this. I gave up after the first book and didn't finish the other one. i see why it was the dark ages. the book's whole focus was all the ways people were gonna pay for their 'sins'. I prefer to see it as all the ways people will be rewarded for all their good. my favorite quote (not from this book) is something about how Christ came to redeem the world not to condemn it. In the dark ages it seems the whole focus was on the negative. "
— Ruth, 2/15/2014 -
" Complex to Read but major worldwide masterpiece "
— Anne, 2/10/2014 -
" Re-reading this one. Its one of those books that you get more out of each time you read it. "
— Darci, 2/2/2014 -
" Epic, brilliantly worded, fantastic. More beautiful mythical imagery than you can shake a stick at. Inferno was my favourite, but all three parts were brilliant. Can't suggest this enough for people with an interest in theology and myth. "
— Matthew, 1/17/2014 -
" Does anyone else think that Dante spent way too much time thinking up really hurtful things to do to everyone who ever even looked at him funny? I found the history behind The Divine Comedy and Dante's life to be more interesting than the three volumes. But once one realizes how many enemies Dante and his family had, and then read the books, you may wonder if Dante would have had a more fulfilling life if he learned forgiveness early on... I also wonder about what he could have written if he didn't have so much pent-up hatred. "
— Dave, 1/15/2014 -
" Mine is the three volume set by this translator with the exquisite illustrations by Gustave Dore. The books are over-sized (octavo) and enormously heavy so that it is necessary to use a table or some support to read them with any comfort. However the verse and the images are fully worth it. "
— Ikonopeiston, 1/12/2014 -
" Odd! Very horrifying view into a man's opinion of what Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise would be like! I did learn a lot of Italian History though. "
— Jessica, 12/6/2013 -
" Took me nearly a year to get through this monster. Make sure Google is close at hand when attempting to read this book. Well worth it though. "
— Kris, 9/28/2013 -
" One of the most beautifully written epic poems (save, paradise lost). No matter your religious affiliation this will grip you and never let you go from the vivid prose to the brain-melting allegory. One of the classics. "
— Terry, 8/13/2013 -
" It is typical to only read the Inferno? As Dante progresses on his journey, the book gets better and better. The final portion of his ascent through Paradiso is unforgettable. "
— Steven, 7/17/2013 -
" 2d best book i read, following "Don Quijote". "
— Damian, 5/27/2013 -
" Inferno and Purgatorio were good, but Paradisio seemed a bit repetitive. It had a lot of slight variants on the same theme. "
— Mackenzie, 3/22/2013 -
" Whether one chooses to read Dante's work out of conviction, or as a fairy tale, the Divine Comedy is simply incredible. "
— Kurt, 1/29/2013 -
" Absolutely brilliant! Not written by Dante himself, but rather by the hand of God. "
— Shawn, 6/17/2012 -
" This book is a must read! This is no longer a required reading book in the public school system. Sorry kids:( "
— Don, 12/7/2010 -
" Is there anyone as passionate as Dante? I highly doubt it. LOVE!! "
— Carrie, 8/3/2010 -
" Very inspiring...such a classic, but beautifully written poem "
— Joseph, 5/7/2010
About Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), one of the greatest poets in the Italian language, was born in Florence and later banished from there for his political activities. His philosophical-political poem La Commedia, later called La Divina Commedia, is considered a masterpiece of world literature.
About James Langton
James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.