Dante’s Inferno | Classics Reading Vlog

This month, I reread Dante’s Inferno as part of my readalong of the Divine Comedy. I would love to know your thoughts if you have been reading Dante too!
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[@1siddynickhead]

Your vlogs are so wonderful! I always feel like I learn a lot and feel very engaged. Thank you Jennifer!

[@jenniferbrooks]

Thank you so much!

[@tomlabooks3263]

Such a great summary. I don’t know how you managed to touch on all the most salient and important points in just one video, but you actually did! You should get honorary Italian citizenship for this.

[@jenniferbrooks]

Lol, Tom, I might print this comment and frame it! Thank you--it means a lot coming from a master of Dante like yourself!

[@dariostevens250]

Jennifer, I reccomend you a book on Dante's life written by one of the most acclaimed italian medieval historians and is more focused in the society of that time with a not very academic approch. It's Dante by Alessandro Barbero

[@GerardLowry]

Thanks. Excellent.

[@camiliraolivares]

Love love love this video. And the backround of the intro! OMG so beautiful

[@jenniferbrooks]

Thank you so much!!

[@ginismoja2459]

Could you do a video on tabbing? I'm wanting to start doing it but not sure how and what the most efficient way would be.

[@jenniferbrooks]

Thank you for the idea! I've been thinking of making a video on how I annotate for a while! It's taken me a long time to find a system I really like.

[@ginismoja2459]

@@jenniferbrooks it would definitely be helpful and interesting!

[@shelfstarters9799]

I’m really appreciating the Sisson notes as a first-time reader for sure. Loving this readathon! 💛

[@jenniferbrooks]

I'm so glad!

[@nursemain3174]

I think my favourite is paradiso, but all of them are so good tbh,I don’t know why but I love descriptions of paradise and when it’s lost. So I’m really happy you’re talking about it

[@svea7175]

Now I want to get the Musa translation as well! I also love the Ugolino passage, it's absolutely brilliant. Such a great vlog!!

[@jenniferbrooks]

Thank you so much!! Now I will pressure you to get the Musa translation, lol.

[@czgibson3086]

C. H. Sisson's name is usually pronounced the English way. My first full reading of the Commedia has been with his translation and I've very much enjoyed it for the strength and confidence of his poetic voice. His translation has been criticised for inaccuracy among other things, so I'm looking to read a few more versions as well as learning some basic Italian. Currently looking at the Hollanders' version which seems more direct and literal.

[@jenniferbrooks]

The Hollanders are pretty literal--sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm also thinking of brushing up on my Italian some. I think it would really add to it!

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

Your videos make me want to try this kind of work literature, so I bought The Portable Dante just today, but I have a copy of Inferno in the Arcturus publishing edition they sell at BAM. I want to really try to understand these works, but I get lazy, because I'm so used to reading modern that doesn't have the same kind of depth that classic literature does.

[@biskit96]

You’re a fabulous teacher!

[@jenniferbrooks]

Wow, thank you!

[@1siddynickhead]

Agreed

[@Leebearify]

May I also suggest an author that Tom recommended to me that has turned out to be amazing.... Marco Santagata Dante The Story of His Life. Very well researched and each time I ask myself, "humm, why OR humm, when Santagata comes up with the answers. I honestly think you will like it. It doesn't have the Divine Comedy as part of the book, it has ancillary information. (BTW if Tom reads this: THANK YOU for this suggestion)

[@jenniferbrooks]

I'll check it out! I've been hearing a lot about Marco Santagata recently!

[@katiewilliams5674]

Thank you so much for this video! It really helped me keep thinking and learning through the poem. This was my first time reading Dante and I read the Mark Musa version. I think the minimal notes made it less intimidating to read and went in for the first time just trying to appreciate the language and imagery.

[@jenniferbrooks]

Thank you! I didn't think about it that way regarding notes but I completely understand that! It's kind of nice not to be bombarded with extra reading.

[@angelawebb7676]

I just bought a hardback of The Divine Comedy translated by Melville?? with illustrations by William Blake. I’ve never read it before and other than your videos and infectious love for Dante, I’m going in blind. It’s a book I want to read because I feel like I “should.” I’m sure I’ll love it afterwards.

[@krisyallowega5487]

Hello, I am visiting your page via T.S. Eliot and his delectable "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock." I believe that there are more allusions to Dante than readers give credit. I am not saying that they were incorrect as both writers are gleaning from the same sources.. Unfortunately, I am unable to get my hands on a copy of The Divine Comedy, but one day, some day soon I will. You have graciously supplied a reading list to prepare us for this journey. So, luckily I will not be sitting idle in waiting for my copy.

[@gabrielwolfe9176]

👏👏

[@Tolstoy111]

Do you like the Mandelbaum translation?

[@kabodra]

Which (whose) English translation of Dante is that?