Dantes Inferno & Umberto Eco

Been reading allot over the summer- I am in the middle of the Hollander's new translation of Dante's Inferno. It is a real tour de force (or Giro di Forza). The notes are great and the matching columns of English and Italian are great. After reading so much crap poetry of late to read Dante is like coming upon an oasis.

The sheer poetic range of Dante is something that makes reading the work so quenching. I have been reading for meter as well and this makes the work so interesting because this is not something found in poetry today. I think that it is the sheer visual power of the language that makes it a good read.

I am also reading Umberto Eco's new novel, the one about the Milanese bookseller who cannot remember his family. This is a tough read- so summer continues- many comings and goings- but looking forward to fall