Inferno: From The Divine Comedy

By: Dante Alighieri, Benedict Flynn - translator

Narrated by: Heathcote Williams

"Abandon all hope you who enter here." ("Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch’intrate.") Dante’s Hell is one of the most remarkable visions in Western literature. An allegory for his and future ages, it is, at the same time, an account of terrifying realism. Passing under a lintel emblazoned with these frightening words, the poet is led down into the depths by Virgil and shown those doomed to suffer eternal torment for vices exhibited and sins committed on earth.

Inferno is the first part of the long journey which continues through redemption to revelation - through Purgatory and Paradise - and, in this translation, prepared especially for the audiobook, his images are as vivid as when the poem was first written in the early years of the 14th century.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2004 Naxos AudioBooks

Critic reviews

"Actor and writer Heathcote Williams gives a masterful performance of Benedict Flynn's blank verse translation. Williams modulates his smooth baritone into different characters, maintaining an even pace through this classic work. The cantos are punctuated by short selections of music ranging from Gregorian chant to Renaissance dance music.... A plaintive horn sounds the beginning of Inferno, the beginning of Dante's journey from The Gloomy Wood to the Circles of Hell. Dante begins alone in a fog of seeking and confusion until he encounters the shade of Virgil. When the poets begin the descent at the beginning of Canto Three, Williams's booming voice is technologically enhanced to create an echo for the famous line, "Abandon all hope, you who enter here." ( AudioFile)

Great translation. Deserves whispersync!

It's hard to imagine how anyone can rightly understand the canon of Western Literature without reading Dante. Dante's first part of the Divine Comedy is compelling I itself, but it's also important because of its influence on the Western Canon. His imagery is creative and brilliant, even if his references to conte port personages can't be fully appreciated without a commentary. I listened to this translation and read along in another translation (Charles Eliot Norton) because I could not find acceptable matching versions. Excellent reader (Heathcote Williams), and a good translation (Benedict Flynn). I found the differences in translations did not prevent me from following along. While I recommend reading along while listening, I found that practice especially helpful with Dante. To keep perspective, I also found myself referring back to Dante's own analytical table of contents (wherein he summarizes each canto.
Overall, this was a good experience and I recommend it highly. I also look forward to exploring other translations: Dorothy Sayers and John Ciardi.

Phenomenal translation and phenomenal narration

Reading Dante always seemed like a monumental task. I would stare at the stanzas and immediately close the page; it looked boring and tedious, more appreciated if I understood Italian.

This version and this narration bring this horror to a visceral life. Highly recommended.

abandon all hope

that is if you don't understand old English yes it's very dated and filled to the brim with old italian political views but it is far more captivating than many storys for it's age and well worth a second and even 3rd reading.

Fantastic!

First rate in all aspects. A true audio treasure to adore all-year round on nature hikes.

Great narrator,quite fitting.

Clearly now I grasp some of the brilliance that has resounded through the ages.
A must have for anyone’s collection.