«Ecce Deus fortior me, qui veniens dominabitur michi.» ( )

This is a quick little read if you are craving more Dante after his Divine Comedy. I still love the way he (or the translators) write. However, as quick and beautiful this may seem, it's still a little tedious to read. Before reading this one should ask: How much do I care about Dante talking about his love for Beatrice?

For those that don't know the history, Beatrice was Dante's love until she passed. After she died it's clear that Dante never forgot about her. In his Divine Comedy she is his guide when Virgil couldn't enter Heaven and in Vita Nuova she is his poetic muse. Not much is known about Beatrice other than what we know of Dante.

Reading this I started to question their relationship. I know Dante loved Beatrice with all his heart. It's often romantic how he treated her. Did Beatrice love Dante though? Like I have said, she didn't have her own voice, only words Dante put into her's in Heaven (unless Dante actually went to Heaven and meet her there). If only someone found her writings, that is if she even wrote anything.

Been reading Shakespeare and Rossetti too and slowly getting motivated to write some poetry. My poems may be a little on the sloppy side, but it's all about how you write a poem. Now this was also a book about poetry. Kind of a how-to or self-evaluation. I found those parts more interesting than his love for Beatrice.

Overall, I wouldn't recommended this to anyone, but those who like Dante and have read all three parts of the Divine Comedy (not just the Inferno). This is kind of a let down and no were near as well written. You can pretty much avoid this book.

I will note I really like the cover to the Penguin edition. Love the illustration with Dante and Beatrice. The deep blues, golden yellows, and flower pinks really make the book appealing to look at, just wish I could judge a book by it's cover. ( )

One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. I love this book a thousand times more than the Divine Comedy. To me, it seems like something of a prototype of the Comedy. This book changed things for me -- in literary thinking and in spiritual understanding. I can't say enough good things about it. ( )

A wonderful hybrid - part poetry, part prose narrative, part theological treatise, part literary criticism with a fascinating glimpse into the Dante creative process. ( )

PO-1