A review of Mary Jo Bang’s translation of Dante’s “Inferno” in 100 words by Catherine Stover
The world is changing, and in this case especially, I’m glad it is. Traditionally, translators have believed that they should remain “invisible,” and “true” to the text. But is that even possible? Every translator’s bias is apparent in their vocabulary and stylistic choices. Here we have a translation of a famous poem written in the 1300s about choices that led to a journey through hell. Unlike these 37 other translations, this one is written by “one of the most wonderfully disturbing and haunted poets of our time.” It’s alive, contemporary, and exemplifies a shift in translation theory. And, it is fun.
Work cited:
Alighieri, Dante. Inferno. Translated by Mary Jo Bang. Graywolf Press, 2012, p. 7.