Dante's Divine Comedy

De: The Great Courses, Ronald B. Herzman, William R. Cook

Narrado por: Ronald B. Herzman, William R. Cook

Professors Cook and Herzman provide you with an illuminating introduction to one of the greatest works ever written. One of the most profound and satisfying of all poems, The Divine Comedy (or Commedia) of Dante Alighieri is a book for life. In a brilliantly constructed narrative of his imaginary guided pilgrimage through the three realms of the Christian afterlife, Dante accomplished a literary task of astonishing complexity.

But the full achievement of the Commedia goes beyond anything merely literary. In these twenty-four lectures, as you follow Dante on his journey, you'll learn how medieval literature offers insights into fundamental questions: What is the quality of our moral actions? How does spiritual transformation come about? What is the nature of good and evil, virtue and vice, sin and sanctity? Why is the world so full of strife? How do we go on when we lose the things we love? You'll discover why, in the centuries since the Commedia was written, not one of these questions has lost its force. Moreover, you'll hear Dante address them in a demanding and innovative Italian verse form (terza rima) that makes the Commedia one of the great virtuoso pieces of world literature.

With the guidance of these two master professors, you'll learn invaluable background information on Dante's life and times; why Dante wrote the Commedia; how to approach the various English editions available; and how each part of the poem is connected to what has come before. But above all, you'll understand why the Commedia is not a puzzle to be solved or a book to be read and put aside-but a mystery whose beauty and richness is to be constantly savored.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

so glad I got this course b-4 reading Dante

with the complexity of the poems, having two narrators was beyond awesome. I think I am now ready to read the poems. I think it will be well worth taking this course before attempting to understand Dante's comedy.

Great journey

I enjoy the lectures by Herzman & Cook. They are able to make Dante accessible and enjoyable to average people like me who find enrichment in continuous learning, even though I’m 50.

Terrific

A great help in understanding Dante's influential masterpiece. Plenty of explanations, guidance, and historical context. I enjoyed the double teacher approach. Will listen to this again. Learned so much, and there's still more to learn about this opus.

Hell

Narrators spoke too rapidly and name-clarity was lost. Too many dates, places, people names to be processed at a rate more suitable to college students instead of mature listeners. I use Audible because brain tumor compromised my vision. My auditory skills are high, but voice and diction of these narrators are mediocre.

A brilliant companion to The Divine Comedy

This is a wonderful companion to the first time reader of the Divine Comedy that will definitely add to the richness of your experience of this amazing work. Professors Herzman and Cook provide an extremely useful mythological, historical, political and religious context and background to both Dante's life and the poem. Their enthusiasm for this work is infectious and they work beautifully together. I listened to these lecturers in tandem with the The Divine Comedy, pausing when I advanced to a certain point in the lectures to then listen up to that point in the poem.