Johan Dante Bücher

Mit Vergil durchwandert Dante die Hölle und das Fegefeuer. Mit Beatrice durchfliegt er die Himmel des Paradieses. Dieser Weg durch die Trichter der Hölle bis zum Höchsten des Himmels – unüberbotene Horrorvision und unendlicher Traum vom Glück – ist eines der lustvollsten Leseabenteuer der abendländischen Dichtkunst. Dante schuf mit der »Divina Commedia« »eines der paar großen Jahrtausendbücher der Menschheit« (Hermann Hesse).

Begun about 1307 and completed in 1321, Dante's sublime poetic masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, is one of the world's great works of literature, recounting the poet's allegorical journey through the afterlife. Led in his travels by the classical poet Virgil, Dante descends through the infernal regions of Hell, where punishment is determined by the gravity of the sinner's transgressions; ascends the mountain of Purgatory where he finds souls atoning for their misdeeds; and, at the summit, is met by Beatrice, his beloved, at the entrance to Paradise. This dual-language edition includes the unabridged texts of 33 of the original 100 cantos or "songs" (each omitted canto is summarized in the proper place to provide continuity), with excellent new literal English translations on facing pages. Stanley Appelbaum also provides an informative Introduction and footnotes.