Ciardi's translation is a classic. With the synopsis at the beginning of each Canto and the notes at the end, Ciardi really wants you to understand the story. Likewise he'll sometimes render Dante's implicit allusions explicit. As for the poetry of his translation it's respectable although not always the most faithful to the text. There are a lot of places where a phrase will be added for purposes of rhyme and meter, and imagery, metaphors will be changed or reworked (sometimes this is done in order to heighten clarity)

3/1/2026