/lit/ - Literature

>Just bought the three books of the Divine Comedy
Read them, and let us know what you think the answer to your question is. With any luck, you may find yourself wanting to discuss more interesting things about it as well.

inferno, by miles and miles and miles.

>dat interminable paradiso part

>>2794691
I second. I loved Purgatorio and Paradisio.I'm even a bit surprised one can enjoy Inferno without liking the others, as all three hold the same amount of theology and history.

One loves the Inferno in youth, Purgatory in middle age, Paradiso in old age.

Or so the story goes. But pretty much Inferno is the most fun. A lot of people like Purgatory a lot (Harold Bloom sez its his favsies but he's a big Jew so he's biased against the True Religion). Paradiso is a slow build but has God-tier glory.

Read Borges' essays on Dante. They're short and the best. Borges thought the Comedy was "the best book we have."

>reading self-insert fanfiction

Inferno is by far the best and most important.

Even so, Dante's description of God in Paradiso is... incredible.

What is the best version to read (translation)?

Probably a stupid question, but could someone who has never read the Bible enjoy these books?

>Go to used book store
>look for Divine Comedy in its entirety
>selection is mostly only the Inferno part
>want to yell at everyone that if they only read Inferno they're missing 2/3 of the story

>>2795150
Not as much. Honestly, you are missing out on thousands of literary references if you don't have at least a basic understanding of the Bible, and this is coming from an atheist.

Everyone who wants to understand literature should read, at the base minimum, The Illiad, The Odyssey, and The Bible. King James version is best for literary appreciation. Focus on Genesis, Psalms, the Gospels, and Revelation.

>>2795180

I've always wanted to read the Bible just for that reason, but I always put it off. I guess now is the time.

>>2794691

Inferno's the one most people today find interesting and/or relevant. The only wide audience I know of that finds the latter books of particular interests are those who would be interested in theology in general.

i.e. academically inclined Christians, barring some exceptions.

>>2795180

Fucker you can't just go ignoring the Aeneid like that. The first major secondary epic deserves recognition.

>>2794789
>but he's a big Jew so he's biased against the True Religion

>>2795223
>first major secondary

>>2795237
>le chocolate chicken

>>2795244
>having conversations exclusively in greentext

>>2795249
>le shopenhour