Jonathan Luysterborghs says:

Shame on You, Christian Audio!! -
I had ordered this audio recording from Amazon.com because I was specifically looking for the excellent John Ciardi translation. The recording arrived today 5/10/09 and I was shocked to find that it is not the John Ciardi translation (Inferno 1954, Purgatorio 1961, Paradiso 1970) as advertised and shown in the photograph of the product; but the poor 1891-92 Charles Eliot Norton prose translation. I am shocked and speechless!!! The packaging of the set was changed by replacing "Translated by John Ciardi" with "Read by Pam Ward"; but Amazon's on-line photo of the product was not updated; and Christian Audio changed the photo but continues to represent it as the John Ciardi translation in the printed description on their website; so it would seem that Christianaudio may have known that this was not the Ciardi translation; but pushed it out anyway!!! Now Amazon has combined all reviews of any version or media format of the Divine Comedy together so that no one will see the negative reviews for this specific product.
SHAME ON YOU!!! #

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AudioFile Magazine says:

When Dante loses his way on the path of life, he finds himself on a journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven. Just as the poet Virgil and his beloved Beatrice lead Dante through the afterlife, narrator Pam Ward takes the listeners through the awe-inspiring cantos of this work. She gives voice to the array of characters, skillfully portraying both tortured souls and angelic spirits. Ward especially conjures the sorrow in THE INFERNO in her delivery of the dialogue between Dante and those suffering. One can hear the pain in their voices. Virgil speaks in a grave, raspy voice that simultaneously expresses his wise yet burdened awareness. Ward relishes the poetic language, reading clearly and emphatically. This brilliant work could prove daunting to any narrator, but Ward tackles it with grace and alacrity. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine #

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