Inferno: A New Verse Translation (New Verse Translation by Michael Palma)

“Palma’s wonderfully readable translation comes close to perfection. I’m tempted to call it a miracle.”–X. J. Kennedy

Unlike every known translator before him, Michael Palma re-creates Dante’s masterpiece in all its dimensions, without emphasizing some aspects over others, rendering Inferno into contemporary American English while maintaining Dante’s original triple rhyme scheme. The result is a translation that can be appreciated for its literal faithfulness and beautiful poetic form, accompanied by facing-page Italian and explanatory notes. “A superb translation; highly recommended.”–Library Journal “I find Michael Palma’s Inferno to be one that I’m having a hard time improving.”–Lawrence Ferlinghetti “I think highly of Michael Palma’s Inferno….Readers will find it admirably clear and readable.”–Richard Wilbur