Dante’s Divina Commedia
La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) by Dante Alighieri is an Italian narrative poem composed between 1308 and 1320, published just before he died in 1321. Split into three parts, it tells the story of Dante’s fictional descent into Hell (Inferno), his climb through Purgatory (Purgatorio), and finally his ascent into Heaven (Paradiso). The edition I would recommend to give someone this holiday season is John Ciardi’s, who not only translates but “transposes” the language, imposing a musical quality to Dante’s original words. He retains Dante’s hauntingly beautiful imagery through his attempts to replicate the idiomatic tone of speech, making this translation perfect for beginners.
Ciardi includes a summary of the events that are to take place at the beginning of each canto, as well as ending with notes on the historical and contextual references made throughout. This allows for an easy understanding of Dante’s poetry, perfect for those who want to read more classical literature but are hesitant due to the complexities of the language. Along with La Divina Commedia, I would also recommend gifting a collection of Gustave Doré’s 1857 illustrations created for Dante’s epic. Doré’s powerful depictions of the events of the Commedia bring a new life to Dante’s moving tale, and aid new readers in visualising the incredible story Dante’s language originally brought to us.
By Keira Grant
Just Kids
Patti Smith’s 2010 memoir Just Kids is a beautifully written exploration of her life as she joined New York’s art and music scene in the late 1960s and onwards. The acclaimed singer-songwriter and poet Patti Smith moved from her home in New Jersey to Manhattan, New York in 1967 when she was 20 years old, leading to the beginning of her creative career alongside friend and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The memoir centres around their relationship, friendship, and journey together throughout their careers.
This book is the perfect must-read to gift someone this season as it can appeal to several generations, whether it be parents and grandparents who were around during the rise and height of Smith’s career, or to gift to younger friends who may be able to resonate with a young Patti Smith leaving home for the first time. Just Kids perfectly exhibits Patti Smith’s diverse portfolio, from her being a musician, as well as a writer, poet, and photographer. It is a captivating and sensitive memoir of love, friendship, and growing up in the 70’s rock and roll scene.
By Jessica Morley
The Secret History
Considered an unparalleled cult classic in the world of Dark Academia, Donna Tartt’s 1992 novel, The Secret History reads as a modern-day Greek Tragedy, set at a prestigious New England college campus. Upon his arrival at Hampden College, the narrator, Richard Papen, is instantly enamoured by an exclusive and elusive group of rich, beautiful classics students and their dynamic professor, Julian. Richard manages to impress Julian, allowing him entry into the close-knit circle and resulting in life-changing events for everyone involved. With the events told retrospectively, and through Richard’s unreliable yet beautifully written account of the events of that year, we are as intoxicatingly captivated yet distant from the students as he is. As an outsider to their lifestyle, both Richard and the reader become spellbound by the secretive, elitist circle, by beauty and danger, and by the intertwinement of the two.
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This theme of the outsider, amongst others, makes this novel relatable for many students. Despite its extreme sequence of events, it is a university experience that resonates with students trying to find their way, and who they want to be, in a new environment, miles away from home. At once, a murder mystery, a study of the philosophy of aesthetics, a psychological thriller, a gothic novel and a Greek tragedy, this multifaceted campus novel is like no other. At its core, it is about the fundamental questions of human nature, good and evil. This makes The Secret History an ideal gift for the holidays—perfect for anyone looking to be captivated by a dark, atmospheric, and intellectually stimulating read that lingers long after the last page.
By Kitty Clark