My very dear friend Lisa Beerman joins me for this episode, and we talk all things Purgatory. Since we share a deep love for this book of the Divine Comedy she's our perfect companion for this part of the journey.

We have a wide ranging conversation about translations, "ways in" to the Comedy, and the usefulness of Dante in everyday life. I hope you enjoy this conversation! Links to a few of the resources we discussed are below.

We left Dante and Virgil climbing down Lucifer’s frozen body—and suddenly what was down is now up. They emerge at the base of Mt. Purgatory and climb past shades until reaching its gates in Canto 9, just a quarter of the way into the book. From there, the journey ascends through purgation, penance, and eventual joy. At the summit, Virgil departs, and Beatrice steps in as Dante’s new guide, leading him into the spheres of Paradise and toward the Highest Heaven.

Reading Purgatory quickly has given me a fresh perspective. Unlike Hell’s hostility, the shades here are eager to talk with Dante, sometimes asking for prayers, sometimes simply glad to meet him. Light is everywhere—Dante’s shadow a reminder of the sun, not the flames of Hell. Each sin is purged through fitting penance: the proud bowed low under heavy stones, the slothful running ceaselessly, each step of the mountain carved with examples of virtue--carvings that move!

One highlight: the poet Statius meeting Virgil through Dante’s introduction. One heartbreak: Virgil’s final farewell.

If you missed the first episode about the Divine Comedy, check out "Week 24" for a discussion of Inferno and Dante's Nuovo Vitae. Next week we finish in Paradise with another guest and Crack-the-Book frequent flyer, my son Jack!

This is a year-long reading list from Ted Gioia and his Honest Broker Substack. This is Part 1 of Week 25.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

Robin Fitzpatrick's Divine Comedy translation

100 Days of Dante

CONNECT

The complete list of Crack the Book Episodes: https://cheryldrury.substack.com/p/crack-the-book-start-here?r=u3t2r

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm