Victoria - Ned Barnett here, from American Thinker. I found your assessment of Inferno to be fascinating, insightful and essentially mind-blowing.
I just recently re-read "Inferno," a not-really-SF retelling of Dante's classic, written by two Science Fiction powerhouses, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Also, these two authors have written a sequel, which I have not yet read. I think it would mean more to me if I first read Dante's original for the first time since college, about 55 years ago
Do you have a recommendation for a specific translation? I am looking for something accurate to the meaning and intent of Dante, but also easily readable (so not necessarily written in poetic style).
To give you a parallel, I am currently looking for the right biblical translation - textually accurate in its presentation of what those inspired writers really meant, while being easily readable (hint: I'm currently considering the NIV translation).
I'm looking for, I guess, the NIV of Dante's works, assuming such exists. So, do you have any recommendations? What I'd like is a translation that is more focused on content and meaning than in poetic beauty, and I wouldn't mind a translation written in prose, rather that poetry.
Thanks very much for your message here. I am really not an expert at all on Dante, but I go with the Anthony Esolin translations. Mostly because they were the recommended text by my Hilldale College prof, who is really an expert and did a great job with this course. The Esolen translations are not poetic in the sense of being unclear or weird to us. Also, the professor and indeed the College is very Christian and traditional as far as exegesis goes. I am terribly aware of the pitfals of biblical translations. If not arcane-my favorite is still the King James Version. HAHA. Nice to make your acquaintance and stay in touch. If I think of anyone or anything once I have a little time to respond to you more helpfully, I will. Victoria
Victoria - Ned Barnett here, from American Thinker. I found your assessment of Inferno to be fascinating, insightful and essentially mind-blowing.
I just recently re-read "Inferno," a not-really-SF retelling of Dante's classic, written by two Science Fiction powerhouses, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Also, these two authors have written a sequel, which I have not yet read. I think it would mean more to me if I first read Dante's original for the first time since college, about 55 years ago
Do you have a recommendation for a specific translation? I am looking for something accurate to the meaning and intent of Dante, but also easily readable (so not necessarily written in poetic style).
To give you a parallel, I am currently looking for the right biblical translation - textually accurate in its presentation of what those inspired writers really meant, while being easily readable (hint: I'm currently considering the NIV translation).
I'm looking for, I guess, the NIV of Dante's works, assuming such exists. So, do you have any recommendations? What I'd like is a translation that is more focused on content and meaning than in poetic beauty, and I wouldn't mind a translation written in prose, rather that poetry.
I'd welcome any recommendations.
Ned
Ned,
Thanks very much for your message here. I am really not an expert at all on Dante, but I go with the Anthony Esolin translations. Mostly because they were the recommended text by my Hilldale College prof, who is really an expert and did a great job with this course. The Esolen translations are not poetic in the sense of being unclear or weird to us. Also, the professor and indeed the College is very Christian and traditional as far as exegesis goes. I am terribly aware of the pitfals of biblical translations. If not arcane-my favorite is still the King James Version. HAHA. Nice to make your acquaintance and stay in touch. If I think of anyone or anything once I have a little time to respond to you more helpfully, I will. Victoria