Jon's Reviews > Inferno
Inferno
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This is a new translation of the Inferno by Mary Jo Bang. It's aim is to present the work to a modern (young) audience. There is a modest introduction, a pretty good bibliography, and she has clearly consulted some of the best current editions. Her translation won't appeal to everybody. Here is a fairly middle-of-the-road translation by Jean Hollander of the opening lines of Canto 32. Dante and Virgil are at the bottom of hell, only two cantos to go before they emerge into the fresh air under the stars, and the weight of the world and the world's evil is above them.
If I had verses harsh enough and rasping
as would befit this dismal hole
upon which all the other rocks weigh down,
more fully would I press out the juice
of my conception. But, since I lack them,
with misgiving do I bring myself to speak.
It is no enterprise undertaken lightly--
to describe the very bottom of the universe--
nor for a tongue that cries "mommy" and "daddy."
Here is Mary Jo Bang's version:
If I could create some death metal vocals
With guttural growls to match this dismal pit
That bears the weight of all the rock above,
I'd be better able to eke out the essence
Of my impressions. Since I can't do that,
I'm reluctant to even try to speak.
It's not mickey mouse to describe the lowermost level
Of the whole universe, and not for those
Who are only up to "mama" and "dada."
If you like this version, taken almost at random from the book, then you'll like the whole thing. If not, not. There are bare-bones explanatory notes pretty much without commentary. Sometimes it's hard to tell if the notes are a send-up of the usual explanatory tradition. (She has a note explaining who Mickey Mouse is and what the above usage means.)
If I had verses harsh enough and rasping
as would befit this dismal hole
upon which all the other rocks weigh down,
more fully would I press out the juice
of my conception. But, since I lack them,
with misgiving do I bring myself to speak.
It is no enterprise undertaken lightly--
to describe the very bottom of the universe--
nor for a tongue that cries "mommy" and "daddy."
Here is Mary Jo Bang's version:
If I could create some death metal vocals
With guttural growls to match this dismal pit
That bears the weight of all the rock above,
I'd be better able to eke out the essence
Of my impressions. Since I can't do that,
I'm reluctant to even try to speak.
It's not mickey mouse to describe the lowermost level
Of the whole universe, and not for those
Who are only up to "mama" and "dada."
If you like this version, taken almost at random from the book, then you'll like the whole thing. If not, not. There are bare-bones explanatory notes pretty much without commentary. Sometimes it's hard to tell if the notes are a send-up of the usual explanatory tradition. (She has a note explaining who Mickey Mouse is and what the above usage means.)
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Inferno.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
Finished Reading
(Paperback Edition)
November 16, 2012
– Shelved
(Paperback Edition)
November 27, 2012
– Shelved