The Inferno

By: Dante, Robert Hollander - translator, Jean Hollander - translator

Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The epic grandeur of Dante's masterpiece has inspired readers and listeners for 700 years and has entered the human imagination. But the further we move from the late medieval world of Dante, the more a rich understanding and enjoyment of the poem depends on knowledgeable guidance. Robert Hollander, a renowned scholar and master teacher of Dante, and Jean Hollander, an accomplished poet, have written a beautifully accurate and clear verse translation of the first volume of Dante's epic poem, the Divine Comedy. Featuring the original Italian text opposite the translation, this edition also offers an extensive and accessible introduction and generous commentaries that draw on centuries of scholarship as well as Robert Hollander's own decades of teaching and research. The Hollander translation is the new standard in English of this essential work of world literature.

©2017 Translation copyright 2017 by Robert Hollander and Jean Hollander (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A distinguished act of poetry and scholarship in one and the same breath, the Hollander Dante, among the strong translations of the poet, deserves to take its own honored place." (Robert Fagles)

"This new version of the Inferno wonderfully captures the concision, directness, and pungency of Dante's style. Like a mirror, it reflects with clarity and precision the Italian original. Each canto's set of copious, authoritative notes complements the facing-page Italian and English translation. A grand achievement." (Richard Lansing, professor of Italian and comparative literature, Brandeis University)

"English-speaking lovers of Dante are doubly in the Hollanders' debt: first, for this splendidly lucid and eminently readable version of Dante's Hell, and second, for the provocative, elegantly-written commentary, which judiciously synthesizes a lifetime of deeply engaged, wide ranging scholarship, as well as the past six centuries of commentary on the poem. No student of Dante would want to be without it." (John Ahern, Antolini Professor of Italian literature, Vassar College)

It doesn’t get worse…andthat’s a marvelous thing!

This camp Inferno has everything you could wish for: rhythm, immediacy, variety of voice, and credible horror held within heartfelt faith. When will the final two sections be given to us?

Well Narrated

I enjoyed both the narration and the story! I’m looking to listen to more of the Divine Comedy!

Loved the narration & how the author presented it.

This is my first time listening to this as an audiobook and I must admit that I was thoroughly impressed — the The presentation of each of the different cantos really brings to life and captures the imagery that Dante wants to convey to the reader. Dante had such a limited space per-line that at times you can only imagine what he was actually trying to describe is just a pin drop in the ocean of imagery left on explained. (or Canto-nized) Bought this for my mother to listen to and the way the narrator talks should be perfect for her to be able to enjoy this amazing title but to absorb the dense meaning Dante wishes to convey to all of us readers/listeners! Much love, always!

Dante

Masterpiece!

I’ve read it twice and it’s beautifully written. I wish there was a narration of each chapter.

Excellent narrator

The pacing of the reading was perfect and the narrator's voice was the perfect pairing for the story.

Great narrator

I wish they included the annotations from the authors from the original physical copy. This is a major detriment to an otherwise fantastic and complete presentation.

Stupendous rendition of a timeless classic.

This is exactly what I had expected from a fairly direct translation of the great tragedy.

Well read, easy to understand

This translation is the best I’ve read, faithful to the Italian and yet poetic. The narrator speaks clearly and with good rhythm, and he doesn’t overdo it. I would highly recommend combining this with the excellent notes to be found in the printed edition of the book, if you haven’t read it before; you really can’t understand the poem without explanation. But if, like me, you’ve studied the poem before, it is enjoyable just to listen without the temptation of flipping to the back for the notes.

Fascinating and terrifying

A great listen. A lot to consider regarding how gory parts are vs time period it was written. Amazing descriptions.

Outstanding !!!!

I am using Hollanders Audible Inferno along with his kindle version & I am so impressed !!!
I looked for the next two versions purgatorio and Paradisio narrated by Dominic Hoffman and I haven't found it....

I am studying " 100 Days of Dante " in celebration of 700 years of Dante and this is the best !!!!!