Inferno v. 1 (Commentary)
Worth buying if: You study Dante Alighieri for classes or research and need canto-by-canto exegesis.
Skip it if: You want a short, modern retelling of Inferno rather than exhaustive scholarly notes.
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Summary
Inferno v. 1 (Commentary) pairs Dante Alighieri's first cantica with extensive scholarly notes and glosses across 1,084 pages, offering historical, linguistic, and theological context for each canto and key tercet.
Why this book now
This Princeton University Press commentary renews attention on Dante's Inferno for readers navigating classical literature, translation choices, and medieval cosmology today.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You study Dante Alighieri for classes or research and need canto-by-canto exegesis.
- You want detailed footnotes on terza rima, Virgilic allusions, and medieval theology.
- If you enjoy condensed, powerful scenes, the plot offers no tidy answers, leaving your sympathies to shift as characters make difficult decisions.
- You want a short, modern retelling of Inferno rather than exhaustive scholarly notes.
- You prefer a standalone modern translation without academic commentary.
- If you dislike shifting perspectives, the prose indulges in poetic detours that slow narrative progress.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780691018959
Worth buying if: You study Dante Alighieri for classes or research and need canto-by-canto exegesis.
Skip it if: You want a short, modern retelling of Inferno rather than exhaustive scholarly notes.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Substantial Longer sessions help
At 1,084 pages of commentary, expect a long-term reference and study project—best tackled canto by canto or session by session rather than in one sitting.
What stands out here
This Princeton Univ Pr commentary emphasizes close readings, manuscript variants, and historical notes that illuminate Dante's imagery and theological arguments.
Best way to approach it
Approach it with a copy of Inferno’s text beside you, tackling individual tercets and consulting the commentary for linguistic, allegorical, and intertextual clarification.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780691018959
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.