Purgatory: From The Divine Comedy cover art

Purgatory: From The Divine Comedy

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Purgatory: From The Divine Comedy

By: Dante Alighieri
Narrated by: Heathcote Williams
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $22.99

Buy Now for $22.99

About this listen

Now of that second kingdom I shall sing where human souls are purified of sin and made worthy to ascend to Heaven’ Purgatory is the second part of Dante’s The Divine Comedy ascending the terraces of the Mount of Purgatory inhabited by those doing penance to expiate their sins on earth. There are the proud – forced to circle their terrace for aeons bent double in humility; the slothful – running around crying out examples of zeal and sloth; while the lustful are purged by fire. Though less well-known than Inferno, Purgatory has inspired many writers including, in our century, Samuel Beckett, and has played a key role in literature.

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

Public Domain (P)2004 Naxos AudioBooks Classics Classic Poetry
All stars
Most relevant  

Where does Purgatory: From The Divine Comedy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

After reading the hard copy and slogging through the analysis Heathcote Wilson's narrative brought the incredible imagery to life. The audio book is definitely superior to the page.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Florentine narrator and his journalistic description of Hell was so fresh. And the flying armless snake/demon who transported Virgil and the narrator down between Levels 5 & 6

Have you listened to any of Heathcote Williams’s other performances? How does this one compare?

He's great in Purgatory too. One day I'll get to Paradise.

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

What's amazing is the freshness of these medieval images: hell freezing over; the Ancient Greeks roaming in endless twilight amongst the trees and the unrepetent sinners who pretty much deserved their torment. Dante's imagination is rich and diverse. It's like one of those complex science fiction movies where you are transported from world to world.

Any additional comments?

Give it a go! It's not some boring dusty study book- it's a ripping yarn.

Classic for a reason

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.