Dante's Divine Comedy: Boxed Set

by Marcus Sanders, Sanders Birk, Sandow Birk (Adapted by)

Hailed by the "San Francisco Chronicle" as "a work of profound satiric fury" and by "Bookpage" as "funny and deeply affecting," Birk and Sanders' masterwork is now available for the first time in a substantial and sumptuous slipcased set. The pair's innovative and authentic adaptation of Dante's epic, coupled with Birk's striking play on Gustave Dor's classic illustrations, make this a "Divine Comedy" for the 21st century. Acclaimed by both the literary and art worlds; rife with contemporary turns of phrase and slang (just as the original poem was written in the vernacular of its day) and pointed visions of the afterlife as contemporary cities; and rich with bold allusion, cultural critique, and witthis is the must-have collection of modern classics.

Genres: Poetry, Religion, Classics, Literature, Fiction

3 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2006

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are what make this book. Sandow Birk's interpretation of LA as hell, San Francisco as purgatory and New York as paradise are inventive and sardonically clever. Marcus Sanders' and Birk's adapted text reads clumsily and the "updated" lingo rings false.

The premise of an updated Divine Comedy, which incorporates modern-day celebrities in a way to resonate with today's reader the same way Dante's audience must have responded is far more alluring than the actuality. The text remains stilted and mired in its own creakiness as an adaptation. For a condensed version of the Divine Comedy, Birk and Sanders manage to encapsulate much of the verbose original into fairly neat tidy packages. A casual reader will enjoy it but not a Dante aficionado.

[Jacquie Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Divine Comedy is referenced in our culture constantly. It's a bit hard to get through if you don't have a class to study it with, but this set is modern and has a cynical bite. The artwork is amazing, just at artwork in the original was. If you can overlook the crassness of updated language, it's a great way to get in your classical studies education.

[R.Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the passages leave a bit to be desired in their translation, but overall, this is such a novel concept--modernizing Dante's journey. Sandow Birk's illustrations are amazingly fresh takes on Gustave Dore's originals. His Purgatory is littered with broken ATMs and fast food joints, and the artwork is worth the price of admission alone.

[Linda Orvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found an antique version of this book with black and white illustrations, and it made it so much richer to read. I admit, I read it to round out my book-reading-history. It was a marvelous experience and gave me insight as to why it has existed through the centuries as a classic must in reading. Dark, profound, and horror in its own right, there were also many sweet passages about love.

[R. Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's take all of our friends, contemporaries, political figures, and anybody else in the public eye, and give them a fitting place in the afterlife.

A wonderful read. Someone should do this with the cesspool of celebrities we have now, but I guess we would have a page for paradisio, a page for purgatrio, and a three volume set of Inferno.

[Kristin]

I made it as far as Canto 14 and had to stop. It's a much easier read than expected, but it's quite dull and the religious bigotry drives me crazy. I'll try to read this through some day. I mean, it's one of those books that you kind of have to, it's so well-known, but now is definitely not the time.

[Miss Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the highlight of AP Senior English! Dante is THE author of ALLTIME! Inferno is probably the strongest in the trilogy; its vivid imagery I will never forget. A harrowing (and very creepy!) story. Every teacher should read this!!

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not THE DIVINE COMEDY Dante wrote. It's a retelling in a modern setting - supermarkets, parking lots, recycling plants. It's horrible! I returned mine and got something else instead. Don't be taken in by the pretty packaging of this one.

[Ryan Dudzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell sucks. However, you read this and wonder if modern Christians didn't just cheaply rip Dante off and call it their holy dogma?

[Lee Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Dante was one messed up - though intelligent - dued.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh the things that people write to scare you about hell...

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are amazing but the modern take on the translation is a little brotastic.

[Ryan Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it but I haven't finished it, but I want to.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most intense and interesting set of books I have ever read. Definitely read if you're up for a challenge.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daunting at times, but spectacular nontheless

[Elijah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It takes some adjusting to read the very lyrical and poetic style, with words that are rarely used anymore, but it's a fascinating story and does flow once you get into it.