What is the best translation of The Divine Comedy?

John Ciardi is the easiest one to read.

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>translated poetry

>>9449539
The John Ciardi translation literally has a plain English description of the text, and then the actual text right after it. Then it has annotations of obscure references at the end of the chapter. It's the absolute most helpful edition you can possibly get.

The John Ciardi translation rhymes too.

Baтныe aнoны ecть?
Haшeл нa чepдaкe Кoмeдию в пep. Лoзинcкoгo - гoднo?

The prose one.
Boy there's so much required reading it makes more sense to say fuck it and jump right in.

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thanks for the ciardi rec anons

I'm using the Hollander transition. The notes are very detailed and the text is easy to understand.. I also read it against the Longfellow edition, which is beautiful but sometimes the syntax gets a little too creative. also it is out of copyright and available for free.

>>9450346
Also, if Hollander's notes are overwhelming, then try the Musa transition.

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>>9449539

Mandelbaum is by far my favorite. He does a largely free-verse translation in order to stay as close to the Italian as possible, but goes the extra mile to get important passages to rhyme.

His notes and annotations are indispensable as well.

I like Lombardo's translation of Inferno but he hasn't translated Purgatorio or Paradisio as far as I know.

>>9449539
Robert Durling for prose.
There a lot of good choices for the poetic, but Laurence Binyon and Geoffrey Bickersteth don't get enough recommendations.