Review (PDF) The Divine Comedy, Vol. 3: Paradise
The final volume in a brilliant translation destined to take its place among the great English versions of The Divine Comedy In his translation of Paradise, Mark Musa exhibits the same sensitivity to language and knowledge of translation that enabled his versions of Inferno and Purgatory to capture the vibrant power and full dramatic force of Dante’s poetry. Dante relates his mystical interpretation of the heavens, and his moment of transcendent glory, as he journeys, first with Beatrice, then alone, toward the Trinity. Professor Musa’s extraordinary translation and his interpretive commentary, informative glossary, and bibliography clarify the theological themes and make Dante accessible to the English-speaking public.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics; 3rd ed. edition (February 4, 1986)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0140444432
ISBN-13: 978-0140444438
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 8.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #73,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > European > Italian #94 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Ancient, Classical & Medieval > Ancient & Classical #2277 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics
Having ascended to the top of Mount Purgatory, Dante the Pilgrim is ready to leave Virgil behind and be led by the love of his life, Beatrice, through Heaven. Heaven is divided into concentric spheres, one each for the moon, the five known planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), the Sun (in between Venus and Mars in this schema), the fixed stars, the Primum Mobile, and the Empyrean. As Dante and Beatrice move upwards, they meet holier and ever holier people. The journey ends with Dante beholding the Beatific Vision, i.e. God Himself as He is.Which is not to say that all the human souls and angels in the lower spheres do not have the Beatific Vision. They are less close in a spatial way but they still have supreme happiness and a full share in the infinite wonder. The souls repeatedly tell Dante that they are content with the level they are at, for they know that it is their proper place and they have complete fulfillment.Dante also learns quite a bit of theology along the way. Jupiter is the sphere of the righteous rulers, including six exceptional rulers: King David, Hezekiah, Trajan, Rhipeus of Troy, Constantine, and William II of Sicily. That's two Jews from the Old Testament, two pagans, and two Christians. Their presence sparks a discussion about how they all are in Heaven even though it is only through Christ's redemptive suffering that anyone can make it there. Later on, Dante is questioned about the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity) before he enters the final sphere, making clear points about theology and his personal acceptance of those virtues.The text, like in previous volumes, is clear and straightforward. The notes are thorough and very helpful to understand the points Dante is making.
The Divine Comedy & Paradise: Paradise v. 3 (Classics) The Divine Comedy, Vol. 3: Paradise The Divine Comedy, Part 3: Paradise (Penguin Classics) The Divine Comedy: Paradise: 003 (Xist Classics) Dante Alighieri: Divine Comedy, Divine Spirituality (The Crossroad Spiritual Legacy Series) The Divine Comedy, Vol. II: Purgatory Paradise Lost: An Annotated Bibliography (Paradise series Book 1) The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: Volume 1: Inferno The Divine Comedy: Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso (Everyman's Library) The Divine Comedy (Translated, Annotated, Illustrated) The Divine Comedy, II. Purgatorio. Part 2 The Divine Comedy, Part 1: Hell (Penguin Classics) The Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy, Part 2: Purgatory (Penguin Classics) (v. 2) The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) The Divine Comedy: Purgatory (Xist Classics) The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (Penguin Classics) The Divine Comedy (Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with an Introduction by Henry Francis Cary) The Divine Comedy Selected Cantos: A Dual-Language Book (Dover Dual Language Italian)
