Reading Dante: From Here to Eternity

“Reading Dante” is a sublime book, the work of a scholar who has spent fifty years studying, translating and editing the works of Dante Alighieri and his contemporaries in fourteenth century Italy. Prue Shaw seems to know her way around late medieval Florence and Tuscany as well as the byways of University College, London her academic home base. This is a book that one feels lucky if he encounters something like it every five years—beautifully written, packed with the result of a lifetime of scholarship and presented in a distinctive but easy to follow manner, organized thematically instead of the more typical “and then he went to the next circle where Virgil said...”. Even though “The Divine Comedy” is a narrative poem, Prue Shaw dispenses with a plot summary, a good idea since it would become simple chronology in inferior language or just a list of sins and horrors that await sinners. She shows us the experience of the journey, the sense of being at the pilgrim’s side as he is gradually changed by what he sees, hears, and feels, as he moves from a man ‘lost in a dark wood” to one who is “turned by the Love that moves the...stars.” Shaw deals with some of thorny questions of literary theory; for example the liquid identities of Dante as author, Dante as character, a pilgrim who writes poetry and Dante the author of the poem we are reading not by explaining theory—often an excellent way to kill the reader’s interest—but by showing how the various guises adopted by Dante shift and fuse into each other depending on theme. A masterful performance, taking a fourteenth-century allegorical poem on sin and redemption, written in a medieval Florentine vernacular following the theology of the time and letting the reader discover its heretofore hidden beauties. She makes a supremely difficult undertaking, given the remoteness of the historical and cultural period in which Dante writes and the complexity of his language seem, if not easy then less difficult. Most importantly “Reading Dante” succeeds in persuading on to do exactly that: begin or continue reading Dante

Shaw's is an outstanding book about an outstanding book. Those unfamiliar with the Divine Comedy can find in "Reading Dante" a very well-written introduction to what Dante's great book is all about. The writing is clear and free of jargon; Shaw gets into the politics and literary tastes of 13th century Florence just enough to provide appropriate background. She quotes short passages of the Divine Comedy to illustrate specific points, but one could take advantage of "Reading Dante" to begin a more extensive reading of Dante's masterpiece. For those who have read the Divine Comedy and are, perhaps, looking for a discussion of the main issues that this work raises, "Reading Dante" is invaluable. The questions are presented explicitly and in clear language and the arguments that follow are concise and equally lucid. Professor Shaw does a particularly good job in the discussion of Dante's ability to use all the resources of the then new Italian language to create a totally original masterpiece. I think there are no other commentaries to the Divine Comedy that are as wide-ranging in scope and satisfactory in the treatment. I read the hard cover version, nice illustrations

An excellent and well-written guide that has encouraged me to re-read the Commedia. My only reservations would be that I don't believe the author really engaged with Dante's religious faith - as opposed to his relationship with the institutional church; and that the final chapter on 'Words' was rather lost on me as I have very little (pocissimo?) Italian.

There is no doubt that “Reading Dante: From Here to Eternity” is a masterful and detailed analysis of the Commedia and Dante’s life. It delves into the connections between the poetry and historical events with deep perception. The research presented with all lines of the cantos imparts greater understanding of the poetry and the period. The intertextual aspects and the allegories leave one with appreciation “from here to eternity”, as the title states. One learns about the tumultuous life of Dante and how his genius explored and invented not only poetic and linguistic forms, but had extended his reach into political and theological platforms with unparalleled effects on the future of Italy. The explanations and the quotations elucidate what an invaluable gift the Commedia is to western literature. One can understand why William Blake learned Italian only for wanting to read and translate Dante in its original. Could Dr. Shaw’s mastery in the presentation inspire the reader for closer association with the Commedia? That depends on the reader’s predilection for Dr. Shaw’s outstanding book. Even if our moral judgment is more lenient than that of Dante, the book’s historical description guides us towards more compassionate views. Yet, one cannot escape the thought that we want to share Dante’s views on treason, or treachery. One also discovers that Dante’s Commedia is not in any form l’art pour l’art, but it is an invention which encompasses many facets of human life. One discovers associations between the historical characters and those in one’s own environment. It leaves the reader wondering which circle or terrace his or her character would fit into. Dr. Shaw’s erudition may elicit envy for her knowledge, thus toss us on the terrace of envy. Yet, this frailty also inspires the reader to acquire greater knowledge of the Commedia and the period.

Fascinating text and context, complete with dramatis personae, glossary, “excursus on metre,” bibliography, time line of Dante’s life and, yes, even handy illustrations. A bargain at twice the price, and a book worth reading again.

I purchased Shaw's book in preparation for an exhibition of Illustrations for Dante's "Inferno," not exactly sure what this author had to tell me. While a scholarly and profoundly "in depth" study of Dante's "Divine comedy," it was fascinating reading from first page to last. There is so much important information packed into this volume that I found myself marking off passages on dozens of pages. I had promised to pass the book on to my friends at Walsh University (where the exhibition is planned), but I don't want to part with it! They can buy their own copies!

Scholarly but not really for the general reading public.

This is an accessible read on a complex topic. Shaw is a reliable exegite and a graceful writer. For both beginners and old hands of the COMMEDIA universe this little book is a lovely companion.

I am at the middle of the book and I finally have a much better understanding of the Divine Comedy. Prue Shaw does a magnificent job of explaining the work by Dante. A real 5 star review.

For me, one who thought himself to be well-acquainted with the "Commedia", well - I felt like some rookie detective at the scene of a crime stumbling over the body having never seen it; Prue Shaw is the seasoned expert shining her light here, then there, pointing out all the little things I'd missed or could never have noticed. This wonderful book inspires one to read again. It is written, on the whole, in a very clear manner and, I believe, is accessible to anyone who is even vaguely interested in Dante. Prue Shaw tackles the "Commedia" through topics ("Friendship", "Power", "Life", "Love" etc) that transcend all three books, thus highlighting links between them or the way that themes are developed, sometimes running parallel to each other (certain themes recurring at the same point in each book) or flowing through from one to the other. In the process, she unfolds the social, cultural and historical background to Dante's vision. It is really when we get to her final topics of "Numbers" and "Words" that I experienced what I can only call an epiphany because Prue Shaw revealed the true magic of Dante's work which can only be appreciated by reading the "Commedia" in its original language. Her absolutely fascinating chapter, "Numbers", starts off quite simply by highlighting the importance of the number three - centred, of course, on the Trinity - but goes on to reveal the numerical patterns that underpin the work. The whole of the "Commedia" is divided into cantos; there are thirty-three cantos in each of the three books, plus a preface to "Inferno" (which creates a total of, what was seen as the perfect number, one hundred). Each canto is around one hundred plus lines, divided into groups of three ("tercets"). Each line has eleven syllables so in each "tercet" there are thirty-three syllables. The last word in the first line of each "tercet" rhymes with the last word in the group. The last word in the middle line creates the rhymes for the next "tercet", and so on, so we get aba, bcb, cdc, etc. This is the "terza rima". Dante invented the "terza rima", a way of writing poetry, he then took vernacular Tuscan and adapted it to fit in with his new invention, in the process creating Italian. Since no formal vernacular structure existed Dante would invent his own rules, even invent words. Unless you read the "Commedia" in it's original language then it is impossible to appreciate the subtleties of his creation just as it is impossible to appreciate his shifting from Tuscan to Latin and, at one point, even to Provencial for narrative and dramatic effect. Dante was fascinated by language; he carried out a study of the vernacular languages of Italy and was one of the first to identify not only the differences between towns but even of streets - he was the Henry Higgins of his age! In the "Commedia", language becomes an incredibly important tool which is used to create atmosphere and to reinforce Dante's vision. I cannot praise Prue Shaw's book enough. I first read the "Inferno" at the young age of twenty and have lived with it, and been inspired by it, ever since. I know I am not alone. Artists and poets have been inspired by Dante almost since the day he first published his great creation. As an artist I am driven to look again at the "Commedia", to look at the potential it unleashes as I contemplate further works and to reveal that vision in a fusion of my own. I feel reborn.

An important introduction to Dante by an author who "enters" into the substance with all the antenae she has at her disposal.

The best the clearest the most inciteful guide to understanding the world the times the politics of Dante's experience. I have this poem three times annd I now see the true beauty and the brilliance of Dante. I highly recommend it.

I found Reading Dante: From Here to Eternity compulsively readable both because of the directness, sensitivity and eloquence with which Shaw responded to the poetry and fiction of the Commedia itself and because of the vividness with which she brought the historical background alive. I'll certainly read it again, and more than once, both for the sheer pleasure of reading it and because it's so rich in information and ideas. Of the different books on the Commedia that I've enjoyed it's certainly the one I've enjoyed the most. It's probably the one that's taught me the most too. In fact I thought it hit the spot on every level. It's crammed with knowledge and insight that are informative and stimulating even for people who know Dante much better than I do. At the same time, Prue Shaw has the great gift of being able to see things from the point of view of people who aren't Dante scholars and speak to them in a way that's neither patronising nor intimidating. Above all, this is a matter of clarity of mind, of knowing exactly what she needs to tell her readers so that they can follow her arguments and explanations clearly and emerge with solid knowledge and insight. I'd have loved to have her as a teacher.