Books to Read Before Dante’s Divine Comedy
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- This year marks the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death. There’s no better time to read the Divine Comedy than now! But Dante does love a good reference so you might want to check out some of his favorite books as well.
Books I mentioned:
The Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Psalms, Song of Solomon, and I intended to include Isaiah as well)
Vita Nuova by Dante
Aeneid by Virgil
The Odyssey by Homer
The Odes by Horace
Civil War by Lucan
The Metamorphoses by Ovid
Confessions by St. Augustine
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius
The Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas
Social Media:
Goodreads: / drowninginhistory
Bookstagram: / drowninginhistory_
Instagram: / jennyfromtheblock1292
Twitter: / drowninghistory
I’ve only found Jennifer since she passed, but what a wonderful trove of treasures her videos are. I will probably watch all of these multiple times. I’m so grateful her video showed up on my algorithm!
You would be a great teacher. Your videos are somehow simultaneously entertaining, educational, and passionate. Really appreciate them. 👍👍
Thank you so much! 💕💕
@@jenniferbrooks I just saw this comment by Gabriel Wolfe and I couldn't agree more that you would be an amazing teacher. I always look for your history chats and your book recommendations. You have a way of explaining literature and history that whatever subject you discuss, it becomes easy to understand and remember. Most importantly, your passion is contagious.
I will miss you Jennifer thank you for everything ❤
Such a gem of a person and I think of her sometimes when I suffer onwards in the frivolity that is academia and the massive egos and delusions of grandeur of so many around me. She was a real learner and a genuine soul. Rare
Audible did a modern dramatisation of the Divine Comedy with John Hurt and David Warner. It is fantastic and may be a good introduction to anyone unfamiliar with medieval poetry.
Great advice. Ive read The Divine Comedy twice, Its the only work ive ever re-read. The imagery and language are simply superb. The frustrating thing is, I feel alone in my awareness of it, none of my friends are remotely interested in it so I don't talk about it. Its nice knowing there are others out there, who know. Recently ive been looking at my little collection of Dantes works and have it in mind to go for read number three. Thank you.
I was very hesitant to watch this video but when I came into it, I realised I loved it so much and it was so interesting. Honestly, I’ve been scared to read my copy of the divine comedy because of how complex and large it is. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for some great advise in approaching the Divine Comedy!
This was a spectacular video. Thank you for all the recommendations! I plan on reading The Illiad, The Odyssey, and the Aeneid starting from April and then I think I'll go onto Ovid and I'm very curious to try Horace and Lucan. You've talked about them in such an interesting way. Thank you again 🌺
Thank you! That sounds like an awesome reading plan! I hope you enjoy them.
I teach in a Catholic Classical school. My children studied Latin for 10 years in a Classical Christian school. They had read all the classical literature in Latin and the New Testament in Greek. Wake up and send your children to superior schools-classical. They read The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid in 8th grade, as do my students. Americans don't know what education is.
Thank you Ms. Brooks for your insightful and passionate advice. I truly enjoyed and appreciate it.
I have started reading along with the 100 days of Dante and am very grateful to find your channel for some background reading. Thanks, your enthusiasm is very helpful in an otherwise prospect.
Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for this!
I can't even remember how I stumbled onto your channel but I am so very glad I have! :) I just read through The Divine Comedy recently (for my FIRST TIME!) I took a class and i absolutely fell in love with it. I will read it again - however, I think given your outstanding video here loaded with excellent recommendations, I think that I will make an attempt to read The Iliad, The Odyssey and Aeneid. Thank you again for taking the time to provide so much information in a way that was a joy to listen to. I didn't feel like i deserved a cookie for listening, but I'm ALWAYS open to cookies! LOL
The idea of courtly love reminds me of the infatuations we with movie stars that we get today 😂
I enjoyed the Inferno quite a bit- I’ve read it twice 😅 In another video, you mentioned that the Sayers translation was a bit stilted and I agree, but it’s just sooo good with Dante dishing on all of his contemporaries 🤣 I need to read Purgutorio and Paradiso still! Thanks for the recommendations!
You make it all sound so interesting! I find myself wanting to read all the works of literature of the entire world before finally getting to The Divine Comedy... I'm especially glad you mentioned certain books of the Bible because I've tried reading it before and never got anywhere. With this more specific guide, I think I can finally get further
One of the best 'review style' videos of any genre I've ever watched. I've been learning Latin,, partially for the ability to enjoy classics as written. Italian and French will follow in time.
Very inspiring! Of course, I just started reading The Divine Comedy so, too late to read all these books first. I'm very familiar with the Bible, so that's a good start. Thanks for all the recommendations!
Thank you for this video. You inspired me to read the Bible. I haven’t read The Divine Comedy but it’s always on my mind.
Many thanks for your insights and enthusiasm!
It's so good to hear someone voice the enthusiasm I have for these books! I couldn’t argue with how well these books would prepare a person for the poem. I started, like many (I guess), thinking I was probably biting off more than I could chew just tackling the poem. Here’s the thing, though; the more I suspected the brilliance of the poem, the more I went in search of books that could open the richness of the poem for me. So I ended up reading the books after the fact. Just recently, I’ve read a book by John Freccero called The Poetics of Conversion that draws on the huge amount of sources that gave foundational ideas for the poem. He judiciously selects the pertinent ideas from these books to give us the tools to open the meanings in Dante's poem. If you do choose this option, you’ll read the pertinent sources but you’ll miss the joy of the classics unless Freccero’s excerpts arouse a desire in you to read where the sources come from. I think and I hope that they would.
Thank you for this wonderful video. I have much to read now!!!
OK, about 15 seconds into this video (the first I have ever seen of yours) I became an immediate fan when you said that the Divine Comedy is your favorite work of all time.
This is an EXCELLENT list. Yes, people should at least be familiar with the works before they read Dante. WELL DONE!!!!!
Imagine my surprise when I saw you on Tom's channel discussing Dante with Dan Christian and you mentioned that you had a Dante read along on your channel! Ugh! So as not to bore you to death, I'll just say that depression crept in right about the time you started this read along and I didn't pick up a book (or watch many BookTube vids) for months. Anyway, I'm thrilled to watch your Dante playlist as I am patiently awaiting my Mark Musa translation! 📚 Thanks for doing this! ❤️
Congratulations. What a superb and inspirational presentation! I shall defintely tackle St Augustine and the Bible as they have been resting on my bookcase waiting to be opened for far too long. But I think I want to learn just enough to enhance my reading of Dante without going so far as to deconstruct his work.
I'm here for my cookie, haha! Wow, what a great video! I'd love to see a part 2 if you're willing to do that. I never wanted to read The Divine Comedy but lately I started to change my mind. I only need to do some research about translations into my native language (that's Spanish) because I'd like to fully appreciate its glory.
This was such an interesting video! I feel myself being drawn more and more to ancient literature, and now after having watched you talk about these books I just want to read them all at once!
Thank you, Svea! I hope you enjoy the ancient lit you decide to pick up!
This is a wonderful video! I am sure that you are well aware but I must say that you are very articulate in your communication. It is also very refreshing to see someone making serious videos about the truly great works of literature. you have gained a subscriber in me.
Wow, thank you!
This is so helpful, thank you.
Thank you for this and all your classics videos, they are helping me to build a classics tbr. I'm currently reading the Bible using that wonderful penguin classics edition.
Thank you! It is a great edition of the Bible (and rather portable too).
Arma virumque cano! I enjoyed the Aeneid and the Georgics a lot. Am reading the Purgatorio in John Chiardi's translation and have ordered Sayers's. Love Augustine's Confessions!! And the Bible!! The Gospel of John is life-giving.
I enjoyed this video so much.
Wonderful video , thanks for getting me started!
i started with the aenied. Then the iliad. Just finished the oddysey. Took foooorever to get into the first pages of lucan... But after learning about the julias campaign i could grasp the subject and im loving it. Thank you for the list. I am taking the challenge on, i plan to continue reading Ovid, Horace, Plato, Aristotle, and Im lovvvving Augustines Confessions, City of God was the first to arrive, got to book five n felt itd be better to virgil and homer n these earlier works since Augustine is referring to roman history. So i put city of God down and will pick up when i feel ive learned about subject more. Because im honestly wahting to dive into Dantes Convivio, and St Thomas' Summa... Thaaaank You.
Adding these to my list, thanks!
Now you have made my To Read list even longer! So many books, so little time. The Twitterati of course have no idea the richness of literature they are missing.
Oh great idea for a video. I know lots of historical figures show up in The Devine Comedy but I hadn’t thought about doing a bit of a Dante challenge and reading around the book. Thanks 👍
Thank you!
Hi, such an interesting video!
For the question of the common knowledge of Horace I can say that at least in Italy, he is easily remembered as one of the best poets of the ancient time (easily in top 3/5) and of all time in general and is much more known that Catullo for example.
ps. the denomination of my high school was dedicaded to him, with also at the entrance the quote Nihil mortalibus arduum est
Thank you, Dario! Who are the others in the top 3/5 for you in Italy? I'm glad to hear Horace is still very popular and love that quote--one of my favorite Latin quotes.
Thanks a lot Jenny !Been a great lover of Dante and almost all the writers you mentioned.(This side idolatry!) Time to revisit the old masters once more!
This made me want to re-read the Divine Comedy and join you in the Dante Deep Dive! I remember loving that “trilogy” when I read it in school.
You should, Rainey! I will drag you along with me, lol!
So gorgeous; so great. Will revisit Confessions, my brick.
This is excellent. Thank You!
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Hi Jennifer, I hope that your week is going well for you. I have a suggestion for those that may find Bible Study a little "tedious." I was gifted a Student Bible from my brother a number of years ago. It plots a reader's course on all aspects of study. Sure there maybe some redundancy but it eases the "burden" of plowing through an entire Book and trying to piece together what I've read.
So, if let's say I wish to read the Book of John. The Student Bible I own has 3 tiers to read and comprehend any Book in the Bible, or any topic. The first block is a 2 week course on the Bible. Then the next step is an 8day overview of certain chapters. Then the 3rd tier of the entire Book of John in 21 days. The schedule is different for whatever Book or Topic and there is a multi-year course as well.
This may be not work for every reader but it has given me a better understanding.
Fantastic video!
Thank you, Jennifer. I’m just off to enjoy that “cookie” (or two,) now.
Fascinating! To see the interconnectedness between works of literature. It's a great idea for any important work, really. Thank you so much, Jennifer. I enjoyed this very much! Some of the works you mention I already have, so I am tempted to start immediately. Could you maybe also recommend a biography on Dante? Or would you rather say a book on his time is more helpful?
I really enjoyed Barbara Reynolds' biography and am thinking about rereading it soon. She really contextualizes the time period he lived in and how/why it affected his writing.
@@jenniferbrooks The same Barbara Reynolds who wrote a biography about Dorothy L. Sayers - who has translated Dante? How interesting. Thank you for the tip! :-)
Recently I've been reading The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. I can totally see The Divine Comedy shining through and it's great! I read Vita Nuova before reading The Divine Comedy last year. And I even read some Aquinas last year too (just a small portion). It's so interesting about Song of Songs not being a focus today in churches. It was a really popular topic for the early church fathers and in the medieval time period. Last year I read Beauty: A Theological Engagement with Gregory of Nyssa by Natalie Carnes and she drew on Gregory of Nyssa's commentary on the Song of Songs quite a bit. I would love to read more commentary on Song of Songs. Have you ever read anything by Peter Kreeft? He has a book Three Philosophies of Life. In it he looks at Ecclesiastes, Job, and Song of Songs and their respective philosophies. I loved it when I read it.
I love the Pilgrim's Progress!! You're right, there is quite a bit of Dante in that! I've not read anything by Peter Kreeft but I will have to pick up Three Philosophies of Life. Ecclesiastes is another favorite of mine, though I find Job such a hard read. Thank you for the recommendations!
I read Horace a long time ago for A-Level. He was such an influential poet once upon a time but seems to have slipped quietly away. I like his work a lot. I've read The Aeneid (Books IV and VI in actual Latin), which I also like but I wonder if there's a decent translation out there that I've missed. I remember not particularly like the Penguin Classic version. I've read Metamorphoses, but I'm intending to re-read it as part of a major Ovid re-read. Ovid's work is so beautiful and so influential that I recommend it to everyone. I have a Ridiculous Reading List that starts with the Epic of Gilgamesh that is - sort of - intended to be one of those Great Booklists. I pulled it together from various different sources as a lifetime goal reading list (which is inherently ridiculous) but I like to have a list and I have a ridiculous Excel one now.
Oh, I love the thought of a major Ovid reread. He really is wonderful. I think most people enjoy the Mandelbaum translation of the Aeneid but I've never tried it. I've read the Fagles and also much of it in Latin when I was at uni. Maybe we should both try Mandelbaum for our next read, lol! I love to have a reading list like that too--I'll never finish it but I think that's part of the fun.
I loved this video so much. I am currently reading Inferno and I’m just loving it. I am also reading the Odyssey. But I intend to read the other works you mentioned. I have read bit when I was at Uni, in my Latin classes.
The translation of Dante I’m reading is by J. G. Nichols and it has the original Italian as well. Being Portuguese, I can understand a bit if the original text.
By the way, you should check the Portuguese epic poem The Lusiads (Os Lusíadas), which was highly inspired by the Greek and Roman poems. It tells the history of Portugal intertwined with all the mythology of the classics. I think you would like it.
Your videos are some of my favourite on UA-cam. Thank you for posting them.
Really love the way you explained the Gospels and relevance to Christian faith. Never realized that a 13th century writer included so many references to other works. Very good explanation.
Thank you for the recommendation! The Lusiads sounds amazing and I am adding it to my TBR. I love the editions with the parallel Italian for Dante--it helps me start to understand a little of the meaning. Glad to hear you are enjoying it. Thanks for your kind words!
@@harmonicdistortion1 thank you! I agree-- it's kind of amazing to think of how well-read he was to have lived in the later Middle Ages.
Hey there, since you have this work as your favorite book, you may also like the classical music adaptations
We have:
Liszt - Dante symphony
Pacini - sinfonia Dante
Liszt - Dante sonata
Great video
The most important one that you are missing is Aristotle's Ethics, which Virgil tells Dante that he needs to remember in canto 11 of the Inferno because the Inferno is organized around the ideas in the Ethics. Most importantly, you need to understand why Aristotle seperates the incontinent from the vicious in order to understand what differenciates those inside the walls of Dis from those in the first five circles.
The other one you need to read is not just the Song of Solomon but St Bernard's commentary on the Song of Solomon, since it is his thoughts of divine eros that allows Dante to take the final steps into mystic experience (the faith of Beatrice cannot take you into the rose of direct contact with God, you need mystic love for that).
Yes good point. Dorothy L. Sayers translation (Penguin books) of the Divine Comedy has very good notes too, that mention the construction of Hell in Canto XI.. This translation is a minor bible of mine. 🤓
This was really wonderful. So glad to share a Dante obsession with you ! I don’t know of a better book. The way I see it (personally), the three Cantiche are one long run up to the prayer to Mary in Canto 33, and Canto 33 overall, which is the highest point that our hearts and minds can reach. Anyway these are great recommendations and I fully agree with your point about John’s gospel (most poetic and philosophic). And Song of Solomon! Yes! That’s such a great connection with Dante’s concept of love/lust. Maybe one day we should do a video about the Divine Comedy together ... let’s think about it!
YES, please !! That would be fabulous. Perhaps think about a 'Starter Kit" for Dante and the Divine Comedy ?
I would love to do a video with you on Dante, Tom! This is a great year for it, being the anniversary of his death. Maybe we should do a series or a live! Love your interpretation about the prayer to Mary--so much of the Divine Comedy feels prayer-like.
@@Leebearify That's a great idea, Lee!
@@jenniferbrooks Hi Jennifer, I hope you're doing well. Is there a specific Canto that you especially love, that we might potentially present together? One example could be Inferno 34, which I should be able to get to in about 2 months. That's just an idea, to focus on one canto. But we could also think of a broader discussion, something like "Why we love the Comedy" or "10 reasons why you should read the Divine Comedy" ? (there are more than 10....). Would love to get your thoughts.
@@tomlabooks3263 hi Tom! Maybe we should do a broader video around the anniversary of Dante's death, like you suggested. I love the idea of a "10 Reasons Why" or even why we love it personally. I am thinking about doing a readalong of the Divine Comedy on my channel soon and I also wanted to ask you if you would like to go live with me for a final discussion of it? I don't know when that will be (I'll feel out how quickly everyone would like to read it) but I thought it might be fun for us to have a live discussion at some point. Would you be at all interested in that?
I've read the Illiad and the odyssey but everytime I've tried to read the divine comedy, I just put it down. It's just a headache trying to understand
I do adore the parts I love, but it's something I can't just finish ever. It's on the top of my list to complete and understand 100%.
I'm trying to make a video about this book but I feel so intimidated. Thank you for this
Great video. Apollonius of Rhodes and his The Argonautica, can be included? Thank you.
This video!!! 😍 Thank you so much for this. I think I'll read the Eneid first 😄
I hope you enjoy it!
What she is describing is literally something a Franciscan priest told me we should do, there is some name for it in Italian or Latin, where you read the Divine Comedy in relation to texts it references, and books written after it that reference it. We never got around to doing it though, but he was a Renaissance scholar so would have been fun to do with.
Dang it, I had Confessions, but I let it go to be donated, but I do have the Aeneid. I think What Dreams May Come was inspired by Divine Comedy.
Miss you Jennifer 😢💔RIP
READ BIBLE FIRST. Indeed. And read a book on the history of ancient Israel. And a history of the Church. And Greek Philosophy. And 'Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master' by Robert Barron. And Dorothy L. Sayers translation of 'The Divine Comedy' (Penguin Books) has excellent study notes. And medieval philosophy. 'The City of God' is amazing. You've probably read it by now. What with the pandemic 😆
As a beginner could u suggest me which translation of dante inferno should i read ?
Homer (Iliad and Odyssey), Virgil Ennead, Augustine, and possibly out of sequence Milton's Paradise Lost..
If there is a reading group starting up, I would be keen to participate!
Love this sort of thing! I’m proud to say that I’ve read all but one of these works (I haven’t read any Aquinas).
I’ve tried to read Horace’s odes a couple of times. I find him hard to get into. Even though I don’t know Latin at all, I get the sense that his verse just doesn’t translate well, at least into English. I should seek out the Oxford World Classics edition, because I find that those editions do a good job of helping me get more out of ancient poetry.
I liked Lucan a lot! I think it’s an interesting epic to read after one has read plenty of other epics, because it seems to me to subvert a lot of the typical tropes of epics. Would you agree?
I agree with you on Horace--my Latin is incredibly rusty but I've often wondered if I like him because I used to translate him a little in school. I think he plays around a bit with form that might not translate that well. I've heard the Oxford World's Classics are the best when it comes to ancient literature and translation--this collection of Horace is my first ancient classic from them and I've enjoyed it.
You've hit the nail on the head for Lucan for me! I wondered what it was that makes me so hesitant to recommend it and I think you're right; it's something you might enjoy better once you've read other epics. I think it particularly picks apart the tropes of Homer and the Aeneid. Definitely agree with that. Thank you for this comment, Lukáš! I always love hearing your thoughts on ancient lit.
Binge watching this awesome channel. Thank you for getting it right for once, Algorithm.
Great advice im just know learning about Dante's Inferno. I wonder if its true like the Bible🤔🤔
New to your channel here Jen, but by any chance have you seen The House that Jack Built? It's a film by the infamous Lars Von Trier. He makes allusions to The Inferno, thought maybe you might find it interesting. : )
p.s. do you mind mentioning the penguin version of your bible? It seems like an interesting edition. Not too sure if it's annotated or not.
I started reading Divine Comedy and right now in 3rd canto. And, here I am watching this video because I'm not able to get the references and have to Google now and then. 😂😂
One can not understand Western Civilization without knowing the Bible, just about everything in one way or another is based on it, be it the Art, Writings, Architecture, etc.
I agree--it is one of the longest-reaching books in history. I think you need the Bible and Homer to really contextualize a lot of works of Western lit.
@@jenniferbrooks Very true, and of course the Greek Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle for sure, as well as the various histories of the Caesar's. For the good and the bad as context is everything.
Great video thanks for sharing, also you are gorgeous 😃
I can write a whole book volume just on CANTO I. I could never truly read Dante's Divine Comedy.
CANTO I: Dante, astray in a wood, reaches the foot of a hill which he begins to ascend; he is hindered by three beasts; he turnes back and is met by Virgil, who proposes to guide him into the eternal world
{7:25} And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. {7:26} But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. (Danel 7:25,26)
Is there a prose translation of the Divine Comedy ?
I have a LOT on my plate, now.
I got a cookie. Good video.
Яка гарна мова 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Ain’t read that many books before the 13th century
I’ve only read Ovid Metamorphosis and that was three decades ago so is a bit vague 😉. I loved this video even if I never read Dante, but if anyone can get me to its you Jennifer!
You are missed
divine comedy is the grandfather of fan fiction
Separate question, if I may ask: what is that pretty large white book you have on the right side with the title “Dante” in red?
That's John Took's biography that came out last year! It was good but incredibly academic. I found it intense, even as a great fan of Dante. Have you read it?
@@jenniferbrooks I have not. The last Dante biography I read is by Marco Santagata. It's recent and also available in English. And I liked it. Not too academic.
I can write a whole book volume just on CANTO I. I could never truly read Dante's Divine Comedy.
CANTO I: Dante, astray in a wood, reaches the foot of a hill which he begins to ascend; he is hindered by three beasts; he turnes back and is met by Virgil, who proposes to guide him into the eternal world
{7:25} And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. {7:26} But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. (Danel 7:25,26)
I can write a whole book volume just on CANTO I. I could never truly read Dante's Divine Comedy.
CANTO I: Dante, astray in a wood, reaches the foot of a hill which he begins to ascend; he is hindered by three beasts; he turnes back and is met by Virgil, who proposes to guide him into the eternal world
{7:25} And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. {7:26} But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. (Danel 7:25,26)
I can write a whole book volume just on CANTO I. I could never truly read Dante's Divine Comedy.
CANTO I: Dante, astray in a wood, reaches the foot of a hill which he begins to ascend; he is hindered by three beasts; he turnes back and is met by Virgil, who proposes to guide him into the eternal world
{7:25} And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. {7:26} But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. (Danel 7:25,26)