I'm wondering if anyone else has read (or begun to read) this very interesting collection of three-books concerning Dante's travels. From the Dark Forest to Hell to Purgatory and Earthly Paradise..and then Paradise itself.

And if you have read it - what are your thoughts on it? As a piece of art itself! In comparison to other great Epic Poems such as Paradise Lost.

Furthermore - why do you think that really..Books do not (as of now) have the same feel as they did back then?

I've read and own it. Excellent saga and one of the finest things ever penned. Hands down.

Transcendent piece of literature.

It might have something to do with the extremely different societal values, freedom of expression, aesthetic direction, knowledge, and economics that we have today. Just a shot in the dark.

i think the difference about classical literature and modern is that the classical writers craft their works from experienced tragedy and comedy they lived through when people living and dying by the sword was a common part of life.

Some modern writers come close, but over all you can't learn how to pour emotion into something from taking college courses on literature. I think some of the best writers of today are able to make their novels great because they've experienced despair at some point in their life.

Well it seems most novels up to the 21st century have ultimately lost a touch of uniqueness or passion they once had. Honestly Steinbeck, to me, was one of the last great American literary authors. Stephen king is 'alright' but it just doesn't compare to Steinbeck. It'd be like comparing Dostoevsky to John Milton - there are far too many levels of difference in both depth, meaning and the way the story is to be told. It doesn't mean they aren't good authors, but when I read Crime and Punishment I won't expect the same thing I got from Paradise Lost or what I'm getting from Divine Comedy.

That and what of today can compare with the Graqes of Wrath? :U

But yeah. I'm also thinking of maybe having a Morrowind-version of Divine Comedy. Where a Dunmeri poet is guided by Saint Veloth through a Hell crafted by Dagoth Ur (while in the Dark Ashlands surrounding Red Mountain). The Poet goes through the journey of this Hell to reach a location crafted by ALMSIVI to fully purify those whom have been redeemed from that Hell or have committed veninal sins against the Temple. Finally reaching the Heavenly Paradise of Aetherius through the Paradise-of-Nirn from atop Mount Boethia.

It'll be hard but I'll think about it more for lore-savvy-ness.

Divine Comedy is the only book my father ever bought me. I was probably 13 or so and he bought a special edition that had Latin on one side of the page and English on the other. Still have it too. As for the story itself: One of the best I've ever read.