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The Divine Comedy

Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso

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The Divine Comedy

By: Dante Alighieri, Stephen Wyatt
Narrated by: Blake Ritson, David Warner, Full Cast, Hattie Morahan, John Hurt
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About this listen

Blake Ritson, David Warner, Hattie Morahan and John Hurt star in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Dante's epic poem.

Inferno: Thirty-five year old Dante finds himself in the middle of a dark wood, in extreme personal and spiritual crisis. Hope of rescue appears in the form of the venerable poet Virgil, now a shade himself, who offers to lead Dante on an odyssey through the afterlife, beginning in the terrifying depths of Hell.

Purgatorio: Dante is led up Mount Purgatory by his guide. They encounter numerous souls who have embarked on the same difficult journey - one that will eventually lead to their spiritual salvation.

Paradiso: Dante's journey comes to a glorious conclusion as he is led by Beatrice, through the spheres of Paradise and into the presence of God himself. As they ascend, they encounter a number of souls who have also achieved blessedness.

Many years later, the older Dante reflects on the episodes from his life that have inspired his great poem.


©2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

 Epic Poetry Themes & Styles

Critic Reviews

In a glorious adaptation of The Divine Comedy, Stephen Wyatt takes a potshot at bankers, forced to sit forever on hot sands under fiery rain. (Moira Petty)
He’s done a remarkable job. Out go the cantos and rigid rhyming structures. In comes a flowing narrative that loses none of the evocative imagery of the original. And it does Wyatt’s case no harm that the three central characters — Dante the younger, Dante the elder and Virgil, his ghostly omnipresent guide through hell, purgatory and paradise — are played by Blake Ritson, John Hurt and David Warner. (Jane Anderson)
All stars
Most relevant
Great performance and I like the length of time.
That said I did just play through while distracted and didn’t catch everything that was going on, which is normal for me anyway.

All the best fiction audiobooks I get familiar with in chunks and cunt wait to have a full grasp of the story.

Need To Listen Through Again

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This was the most amazing story I have ever listened to. Glory be to the Lord, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Epic

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Even though I forgot about it halfway through and came back for it later, I'm so glad I did.
It was beautiful. talks about high ideals of the times and I find it fascinating how humanity has changed much in some ways and not so much in others.
I loved this audiobook as I wouldn't have read it otherwise.
Thank you, it will stay with me for years to come.

More beautiful than I imagined

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I think Dante would be speechless for this dramatisation of his epic poem. I thoroughly enjoyed every part especially Hell, definitely had a good dose of British wit. Stellar performance by the cast and immersive experience through music and sound design. Well done to everyone involved in the making.

Absolute masterpiece

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A great example of Christian propaganda and its childish and sick minded carrot or stick theme.
Very well executed
Recommended

Great example of Christian propaganda

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