Friday, June 6, 2008

Dante's Inferno.

     I was at my son's the other day and saw an old book on the table from 1948.   Dante's Inferno. 

         Turns out my son rescued it from the auction.  I didn't even know my MIL had this book.  What a wonderful book.

"Through me the way into the suffering city,
Through me the way to the eternal pain,

Through me the way that runs among the lost.
Justice urged on my high artificer;
My maker was divine authority,
The highest wisdom, and the primal love.
Before me nothing but eternal things were made,
And I endure eternally.
Abandon every hope, ye who enter here."



The graphics were just wonderful illustrations by Gustav Dore. I hadn't read the book in years.

     Of course when I was a moody teenager it was on my must read list and I spent many a deary day quoting passages of this wonderful book to all who would listen.  What a dork I was.  However.  It is still a great book and it did my heart good to see my son had saved it.  So I was checking on line and found this interesting site.  A very abbreviated version but still good.

Dante's inferno.. a virtual tour through hell.
   Makes me definitely want to stay on the straight and narrow.  It justs shows one part of the book.  Not purgatory or arriving at heaven.



 You have to get the book to read the rest of it.  The poetry is among the best.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oddly enough, I've never read it. I'll check out the link. Should I be afraid?
Have a great weekend.

Jimmy

Anonymous said...

That is one book I've been wanting read for years, but never got the chance.  :)  Julie

Anonymous said...

I read it a few times when I was much younger. It is a goth kid fav around here, & they quote just as you did. Sometimes being a dork isn't so bad....

Anonymous said...

Never read Dante's Inferno.  I know he was a religious man, maybe even a Christian.  Does he have any concept of Grace in his writings?  

Anonymous said...

I always remember the Latin phrase Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate from that book. I'm glad your son saved it from the auction. Have a good weekend! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/