La Divina Commedia

i have decided (last night when i was in Boni High Street) that reading (and finishing it before the break's over) Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy" would be my act of contemplation (and penance) for lent 2010. ***Ugghh--Oo na. Spur of the moment decision ito. and yet again it's Mainly to justify another book purchase! but since the season is right (to get one in the mood for such book), and Dante's pretty much solid in the canon of literature, might as well get it over with and infuse my reading ritual with meaning.

Hmmm to the Western reader it might be odd that Dante was never a required college/high school reading(?)--but it is was it is, call it negligence or postcoloniality on the school's part (mainly it depends on the choice of instructor--besides i don't want to argue about class and geopolitics. And as I've said before I was never really "classically" trained like you know all those young privileged men in the English novels you read--in short I'm a true blue Manila dweller (third world y'all) *taps fist on chest... but the beauty of it is...it's never too late.

*off course i could also rant about how I wish i was in Boracay right now but what's the use right? besides I know I'll just read on the beach too hahaha!

I am reading the very handsome Everyman's library edition (hardcover) of the work translated by Allan Mandelbaum. It has the Botticelli portrait of Dante together with his series of illustrations depicting scenes from the work.

I haven't researched (impulse buy nga kasi) what's the best translation for Dante but this would do I guess.

*Have I told you that if I had millions I'd buy the whole series of "Everyman's Library"? they are really nice--it would be a dream to have a library filled with the whole lot *heaven.

let's go then!
to officially inaugurate my "summer's reading"
i am going to hell (and heaven) and back.


peaceful lent to everyone.