Divine Comedy (version 2 Dramatic Reading)

Length: 13 h 4 min
Chapters: 100
Language: English
Genre: Dramatic Readings, Narratives
First published: 1921

The Divine Comedy (in Italian, Divina Commedia, or just La commedia or Comedia) is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri in the first decades of the 14th Century, during his exile from his native Florence. Considered the most important work of Italian literature, the poem has also has enormous historical influence on western literature and culture more generally. Dante represents the three realms of the afterlife in his three canticles (Inferno--Hell; Purgatorio--Purgatory; Paradiso--Paradise) in a way that reflects and, at the same time, goes beyond Christian tradition of the 14th Century. Dante is sometimes called "The father of the Italian language" for the linguistic influence of the Comedy, which helped to elevate his native Florentine Tuscan dialect to the level of national standard. The poem is written in the first person, and tells of Dante's journey through the three realms of the dead, lasting from the night before Good Friday to the Wednesday after Easter in the spring of 1300. The Roman poet Virgil guides him through Hell and Purgatory; Beatrice, Dante's ideal woman, guides him through Heaven. (Summary by Mary J)

MC: Leni

BC: Mary J

DPL, Editor: Michele Eaton

Cast:

Heavenly Messenger, Pier della Vigna, Malacoda, Sordello, Sapia, Angel of Temperance, Leah, Nymph 2, Piccarda: Sarah Terry

Pier da Medicina: Adele de Pignerolles

Homer, Minotaur, Jacopo Rusticucci, Pope Nicholas, Master Adam, Cato, Manfred, King Solomon, Adam: alanmapstone

Tree, Tree 2, A Soul in the Sphere of Mercury: Amy Gramour

Peter Damian: David Lawrence

Sinner 1, Megaera, Soul 2, Widow, Wife of Pisistratus, Siren, Lustful Soul 1, Nymph 7: Availle

Mohammed, Corrado Malaspina: BeniaminoMassimo

Minos: Bryan Rupert

Aglauros, Pisistratus, Abbot of St Zeno: DomBombadil

Ulysses: David N Winkler

Count Ugolino, Soul 3, St James: Beth Thomas

Plutus, Calvalcante dei Calvalcanti, Giacomo da SantAndrea, Alessio Interminei of Lucca, Vanni Fucci, Guido da Montefeltro, Sinon, Nimrod, Buonconte Da Montefeltro, Guard, Oderisi, Envious Soul 3, Marco, A Pope, Forese Donati, Guido Guinizelli, Griffon, Justinian, Thomas Aquinas, St Peter: Andrew Coleman

Cacus: GaylorSwift

Ciacco, Sinner 3, Lano, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, Malebranche 2, Fra Catalan, Puccio Sciancato, Boniface VIII, Capocchio, Frate Alberigo, Belacqua, Judge Nino, Envious Soul 4, Guido del Duca, Nymph 3, Charles Martel, Bonaventure, St Bernard: Zach K

Bertran de Born, Angry Mob: Johnny Alexander

Narrator, Beatrice: Mary J

Charon, Filippo Argenti, Chiron, Guido Guerra, Venedico Caccianimico, Swindler: inflected

Proud Soul 2, Nymph 4: Jessie Yun

Francesca da Rimini: Amanda Friday

Angry Mob 1, Angel of Peace, Singing Elder, Nymph 5: K Cotter

Wrathful Soul, Tisiphone, Farinata, Nessus, Capaneus, Malebranche 1, Fra Loderingo, Snakeman, Black Cherub, Mosca, Camiscione dei Pazzi, Casella, Pia, Angel, Proud Soul 3, Envious Soul 2, Thunderous Voice, Angry Mob 4, Lavinia, Slothful Soul 1, Angel of Zeal, Hugh Capet, Bonagiunta, Lustful Soul 3, Soul in Eden 1, Many Souls Voice 3, Nymph 1, Folco, St Benedict, St John: Kristin Gjerløw

Omberto, Rinieri dal Calboli, Avaricious/Prodigal Penitent, Statius, Many Souls Voice 4: Leni

Virgil: Anna Simon

Phlegyas: LibriNinja

Lucia, Malebranche 4, Penitent Soul, Jacopo del Cassero, Lucia, Angel of Humility, Other Souls 2, Many Souls Voice 5, Nymph 6: Lydia

Brunetto Latini: Martin Geeson

Bocca degli Abati: Alex Lane

Excommunicated Repentant Soul: Nan Mig

Alecto, Trajan: Patrick Eaton

Cacciaguida: Vin Reilly

Griffolino, Slothful Soul 4: Rob Board

Sinner 2, A Florentine Bush, Malebranche 5, Traitor 2, Angry Mob 2, Slothful Soul 3, Lustful Soul 2, Soul in Eden 2, Many Souls Voice 2: Rosslyn Carlyle

Avaricious, Prodigal Penitent 2: Ruth Golding

Singing Souls, Angel of Purity, Matelda, Singing Angels: Shakira Searle

Avaricious Soul, Agnello, Angry Mob, Cunizza: Holly Alexander

Virgin Mary, Prodigal Soul, Demon, Usurer, Traitor 1, Late Repentant Soul, Proud Soul 1, Envious Soul 1, Angel of Generosity, Holy Lady, Other Souls 1, Voice, Many Souls Voice 1, Eagle: TriciaG

Dante: Peter Tucker

Malebranche 3, Buoso, Angry Mob, Slothful Soul 2: Vincent Alexander

Daniel Arnaut: Vespero

Chapters

From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org), the text (opens oll.libertyfund.org), all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org).