THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE ALIGHIERI. PARADISO. Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

First Edition of Longfellow’s translation of Paradiso, or Paradise, the third and final volume of the Divine Comedy. The English printing by Routledge is of far better quality then its American counterpart produced by Ticknor and Fields. 8vo, in the publisher’s original bright green cloth, the upper cover featuring a gilt bust of Dante within an ornate gilt cameo and with borders in blind, the spine ruled and lettered in gilt. vii, 493-760, [10 ads.] pp. A beautiful copy, fine and fresh, deep rich green with bright gilt, hinges firm and solid, a fine survival of a highly important work.

Edizione: a beautiful copy of this fine and important translation by the renown american literary giant. henry wadsworth longfellow, america’s “fireside poet”, turned to his translation of dante for solace after the tragic death of his second wife. he met weekly with the dante society, which he formed with lowell and c.e. norton. his translation of the greatest of all italian literary figures is treasured to the present day and is largely credited for beginning a trend in bringing the world’s great literary treasures to american readers. pulitzer prize winning poet and dante enthusiast james merrill praised the rare "priceless fidelity" of longfellow's groundbreaking translation.