The Purgatorio (Signet Classics) Mass Market Paperback – October 6, 2009

I bought this book used & in person initially & with a previous, prettier cover. I assumed it had the side-by-side Italian of the same publisher’s “Inferno,” so my only complaint is that the title of “Purgatorio” instead of “Purgatory” is misleading. That said, this translation is excellent. I’ve bought multiple copies for friends and family & a fresh one for myself since my used copy was falling apart & full of my own notes. I speak Italian as a second language and obviously don’t speak it with the top tier fluency and familiarity of Dantes centuries-old Italian others have. I still would prefer the side-by-side original Italian that almost always accompanies “Inferno” & Dante in general because Dante’s the father of standard Italian & the Shakespeare of Italy. The lack of Italian is my only gripe, but the footnotes and annotations of Ciardi are excellent & helpful, as is the quality and poetic nature of the translation. I understand and respect more literal translations, but as a native English speaker, I also appreciate the ability to enjoy this underrated second portion of Dante’s Divine Comedy in such an enjoyable, compelling way. I loved my first reading of “Purgatorio” in English with this translation/annotation so much I’m willing to forgive creative liberties with translator word choices. The one other English only version of Dante I’ve seen (of the entire Divine Comedy) is completely lacking in footnotes and helpful Information for every Canto. Give this book a try and buy more copies of this affordable paperback for the people in your life who don’t realize how good “Purgatorio” is. You’re more likely to convince them and provide them an enjoying reading experience with this translation and it makes a great small gift of low-cost that isn’t extravagant. I blame Purgatorio’s relative lack of popularity to Inferno for its lack of side-by-side translation. As someone who finds Purgatorio, hopeful, redeeming and aspirational, I wonder why Americans fail to embrace it. The themes of Purgatorio share a lot with American values, so I don’t get why people read Inferno, and simply move on instead of continuing on to Purgatorio after. Embracing negativity and despicable people in hell isn’t typically our style as Americans. I think this book contains a lot of hope and redemption as well as empathy for imperfect, but redeemable people. What’s not to like about that, especially during a troubling time for Americans exacerbated by 24/7 hysterical media, politics & war/international relations? I always crave some positivity when things feel negative but highbrow literature that isn’t depressing AF is hard to come by. Enjoy this affordable & excellent paperback! Tell your friends! It doesn’t matter that “Purgatorio” centers in a Catholic context, but I think the dominance of Protestantism in America and the stigma of Catholicism may explain the lack of WASP status quo appreciation. Underrated!

I went to a library in my nans home city and they had nooooo Dante Alighieri books. Not even Richard II, so I ordered this for the library and donated. They were actually shocked, I love all his book but I didn't want to donate Inferno because its more commonly read.

This translation is beautiful and easy to follow. There is a summary and the beginning of each canto and footnotes at the end of each chapter that are really helpful.

Love it and I consider it a huge personal achievement to complete the second Comedia Cantica. A rich church today is just as likely corrupted and degenerate as it was a 1000 year ago when Dante's despaired over the corrupt papacy which he reflected that prominently in his Inferno and Purgatorio. A book I would not want to die without reading it because it has raised my consciousness of the process of sanctification, a necessary process to purify oneself in preparation to meet our perfect Maker. Before reading  The Purgatorio , the concept of purgatory was entirely foreign to me even though I am familiar with the Bible and am affiliated with the Presbyterian church. That's because the Bible does not talk about purgatory, only sanctification while true believers are alive and they never ever reach perfection until the day they die.  The Purgatorio  is extremely difficult read without help for a first timer because of the poetry, ancient history and mythology in the text. Hence the excellent annotations and scholarly notes at the end of  The Purgatorio  from learned translator like John Ciardi has enhanced my enjoyment of Dante's purgatory infinitely. The images from paintings related to Dante's works I obtained from the internet were also critical in helping me with visual imaginations because imagery is an essential element in enjoying Dante. Purgatory is one aspect of Catholicism I found appealing although I wonder whether priests take liberty of sinning because they think it is possible to reach paradise after doing time in Purgatory. Compared to Inferno, Purgatory has much more biblical references and Dante's interpretation of them. Although written about 900 years ago, I was curious with Dante's biblical views compared to mine. A good knowledge of the bible is undeniably absolutely essential to full appreciation of  The Purgatorio . Having climbed the peak of purgatory, my next stop is the final segment of The Divine Comedy, Paradiso.

This is a book for reference. I keep coming back going over stuff.

Purchased as a requested gift for someone who read Inferno by Dante. He was very happy with it!

The poet makes a fine companion and guide through the difficulties of Dante. The balance between poetry and meaning is good, and evokes the original without requiring a course in the politics of the fourteenth century.

I truly enjoy reading the classics. However some classics must be translated. Some translations loose meaning since you can not translate word for word. Only the meanings can be translated and with the evolving English language sometimes words can have skewed definitions. John Ciardi is the best Dante translator I have read. Signet has done a good job at this price point. The Devine comedy is a book set that will expand your understanding on many uncannonized ideas.  The Inferno (Signet Classics)The Paradiso (Signet Classics)The Purgatorio (Signet Classics)

The poem is sublime but the edition is cramped and awkward to read. Dante deserves better.