I was so disappointed by the Black and White layout. I got through it but I was so shocked at how poorly this was done. I'd rather just read the book.

This is a graphic novel that sets Dante's tour through hell, purgatory and heaven in an overly simplistic style of 1920’s dress. In the few graphic novels that I have read, I have been amazed by the emotions that the artist was able to convey with just a few changes in facial expression. I did not find anything like that in this novel. I cannot claim to have read Dante’s original “Divine Comedy “ in its entirety, but I do know enough about it to voice the opinion that this was far too simplistic to give the reader even an ounce of appreciation for the work of Dante. ( )

I was rather captivated by this graphic adaptation of the classic Dante Divine Comedy. I think some of us regard the full poem a rather daunting read, and this cleverly presented effort was fun to walk through. The traveler, Dane, looks like a clsssic detective and wears modern dress, smoking a pipe. He might be Sherlock Holmes being guided by a Poirot as Vergil through Hell and Purgatory. Beatrice looks like a movie star of the 1920's or 30's and takes Dante into Heaven. I cannot attest to the veracity of every image, but I think they do capture the story pretty well. ( )

I won this book from Early Reviewers, but never got it. I finally stumbled on a copy and snagged it, so I'll review it here. This odd little volume is a sort of comic strip overview of the Divine Comedy, with Dante drawn as a sort of hapless gumshoe complete with fedora and trench coat, and Virgil as a Broadway-refugee Hercule Poirot on a bowler, cane, two-tone shoes and glasses. Unlike some of the more quirky renditions I've seen, this would not really help someone who doesn't know Dante to read or understand his masterwork. But for those who know the Comedy, it offers an amusing and silly romp through the afterlife rendered with the sort of dry wit and offbeat whimsy one might expect from Chwast. If you know and love the Comedy, you'll likely get a kick out of this, and it deserves a spot on your shelf. If you're new to it, you might still enjoy the humor here, but don't let it throw you!

I have really enjoyed the books offered by Bloomsbury so eagerly anticipating the arrival of this book. Can't believe I won another Goodreads giveaway so soon!

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Clocking in at a mere 127 pages, this graphic novel is an extremely condensed version of [b:The Divine Comedy|6656|The Divine Comedy|Dante Alighieri|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320552051s/6656.jpg|809248]. Each canto covers about a page or two of illustration (sometimes less). The many levels of hell, purgatory and paradise described in The Divine Comedy are rendered through Chwast's simple black and white illustrations. The text mirrors this no-frills drawing style and manages to remain concise yet darkly humorous throughout. Here are some of my favorite lines:

"Henry the Fat of Navarre. He died choking on his fat."

"Do you remember me? I am Ciacco. Don't get too close. I stink."

Dante: "Hmm those peaches look good.
Virgil: "You can have your peach and eat it too."

The image is of flames burning the spirits of the lustful as Dante looks on. He says to poet Guido Guinicelli (who is burning in these flames), "I love your work."

I rather enjoyed this first exposure to Dante's Divine Comedy. It was interesting to see prominent Christian figures featured along side those of Roman mythology. I also couldn't help thinking of Dante as a hip Inspector Gadget due to his modern duds. Maybe someday I'll attempt to tackle The Divine Comedy in its entirety. This has definitely piqued my interest. It's nice to know I'll have this illustrated shorthand nearby when I do. If this was Chwast's intention then he has succeeded. I would compare this graphic interpretation to a Cliff Notes version rather than an abridgment of the original. ( )