Interesting but poorly performed.

I persisted with this until I just had to give up after around eleven hours. I would have found it more interesting and more easily understandable if the explanations on each upcoming canto had either been read by a different person or at least in a different manner from the actual canto itself. I found it difficult at times to know whether I was listening to the that written by Dante or the interpretation of his meaning. In the end, the performance just became so monotonous that I couldn't get to the end.

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A roller coaster of scenes and language

What made the experience of listening to The Divine Comedy the most enjoyable?

The first part really put down the groundwork and was so good I could listen to the last two much slower parts

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The obsession with Beatrice and describing her "divine beauty" every other canto would have helped. Some phrases or states of mind got very repetitive

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I think that would be too much, at least split it into three parts and only listen to the last two if you really really enjoyed the first one (Hell)

Any additional comments?

Somewhat split emotions when it comes to this book.
First part (Hell) was absolutely amazing, it was so gripping I got several chills down my spine. Would give it 8/10

Second part (Purgatory) was slow and repetitive, felt like Dante collected names just to spread their word once he returned. Would give it 4/10

Third part (Paradise) was very geometrical and complex, lots of patterns and angels who emerges from pure light. Little to the trippy side and enjoyable. Would give it 6/10

Overall all three books would get a 6/10 and I could only recommend all if you really enjoy the first part.

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2 people found this helpful

Very Very Good

What did you like most about The Divine Comedy?

It's the Divine Comedy. Its extremely well translated, I don't know how much is lost in translation. Certainly the rhyming structure so it stops being a poem and becomes prose but I didn't care about that.

Which character – as performed by Ralph Cosham – was your favourite?

He doesn't really have characters, just Dante and he did a good job, if a tad monotone.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh and go how the *beep* did he get that past the pope.

Extremely frustrated with the canto structure. Explanation of the canto then the canto then another explanation. kills the momentum. but stick with.

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3 people found this helpful

Timeless poetry made accessible

Dante’s journey is timeless and magical - not fantastic nor fiction in its attempt to explain the unexplainable, but honest and pure in its vision - it has lasted 700 years and I imagine it will continue to inspire minds for millennium to come.

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Poor narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend this. The narrator sounds as if he has a bad cold.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ralph Cosham’s performances?

No.

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2 people found this helpful

good but....

I love this story and I was pleased when I saw it in audible but there is one problem. I couldn't immerse myself into the story because the man who is reading the book explains each canto. I am aware that there are some new readers reading this book but I just wish I could turn the commentary off, I love this story but the commentary broke the immersion for me

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4 people found this helpful