Book Four: Inferno or La Commedia Divina?

While the final decision will not be made before the end of the month, we are currently leaning towards publishing the entire Divine Comedy, with woodcuts from the 1491 Venetian edition by Pietro di Piasi Cremonese. It will be the Longfellow translation, but will not include any notes.

The alternative is to do three separate volumes, each with the appropriate notes. While this might make sense for a Limited Edition, it does not strike us as appropriate or cost-effective for the Library/Libraria subscriptions.

UPDATE: We have decided to do the full Divine Comedy for the May-June subscription.

I like the Divine Comedy single volume no notes proposal.

I like this approach.

Alternatively, if a plan exists to do a special edition including the complete comedies, notes, and original translations, I would not be opposed to a simple Inferno for now knowing I could purchase a massive deluxe edition down the road. It could satisfy those CL subs (and staff) who think providing single volumes early on would behoove the ultimate endeavor.

A massive single edition with the notes is not in the cards. The history of Franklin Library has shown that it's not wise to go beyond 700 pages; that's why they sent out special supports to prevent the weight of the gilded pages from pulling the book block away from the binding for their larger volumes. What we'd probably do to distinguish the single volume subscription Comedy from the three-volume limited edition set would be to add both the notes and the original Italian to the latter.

Like electrum, I would be more interested in the single volume Divine Comedy with the woodcuts.

That is what I meant. I strongly support that idea. You guys are exceeding expectations.

I'm good with the full Divine Comedy without notes.

Woodcuts, no notes, the entire Divine Comedy sounds like a score.

I like the idea of the entire Comedy.

Vote for entire Divine Comedy

Agreed; I prefer the entire Divine Comedy without notes.

Entire Divine Comedy without the notes

Vote for entire Divine Comedy w/o notes (and future Limited Edition option!)

I like the entire Divine Comedy with woodcuts.

Can confirm. Book 4 will be the complete Divine Comedy.

Superb. Thank you CL.

THE DIVINE COMEDY Library edition can be ordered here: https://arkhavencomics.com/product/book4-library/

THE DIVINE COMEDY Libraria edition can be ordered here: https://arkhavencomics.com/product/book4-libraria/