Poetry category: Reading Dante?

I have decided to include one volume of Dante in my category "Poetry and Short Stories". I have the complete 3 volume set, Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso. I had listed Paradiso as my proposed reading, on the theory that if I am to start with something this deep, I should start with something positive. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't start at the beginning, but also confess I'm not sure which is the beginning, or if there is one.

If anyone has any suggestions about where to start on this set, I'd appreciate your insights.

Inferno is the first, followed by Purgatorio, and finally Paradiso.

I started with Inferno and it made sense for me to start there.

I just reread Inferno and at the end it leads into Purgatorio. Today I started Purgatorio. I am guessing that at the end it will lead into Paradiso. I don't have a copy of Paradiso yet. I do want to read that, too. Although it does begin with Inferno, I do think that you can probably just start wherever you want. However, I have only ever read Inferno before. Good luck with Dante! :)
--BJ
BTW, my book came with a lot of notes. I read those because I was not familiar with the historical references, at least not all of them.

Inferno is by far the best one. There's a reason that it's the one people usually read! Like Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, hell is just more fun to read about than heaven -- all full of praise singing and happiness.

I agree--Inferno is far more 'fun' to read and it is also the first one. I read them all several years ago in the John Ciardi translation. I highly recommend it--I think it reads much more easily than the Mandelbaum translation which I've also read. I just recently found on a sale table at B&N a beautiful edition with lovely the Dore illustrations of the Longfellow translation -- but I haven't read it yet so I don't know how easy it will be to read. But it is beautiful to look at!

Hi everyone, thanks for your suggestions....I guess I will plan to start with the Inferno. Being a good Catholic girl, (ha ha) I think I might put this in the queue to read during Lent. The translation I have is the Mandelbaum, three volume with pen & wash drawings by Barry Moser. This is a beautiful set that we inherited from a dear Auntie who was the most well-read person I've ever met. When she died at age 94, she said she still had 100's on her tbr list, but I'm sure she's enjoying the heavenly library. So if anyone wants to join me on this endeavor, hop on board.

I have Dante on my list as well. I'm reading all three in one very old book I inherited from my Grandmother. It doesn't say who translated, but illustrations are by Umberto Romano and it was published in 1947 by Doubleday & Company, Inc. A treasure for sure!

#7 & 8
How wonderful to have such meaningful books. I have a few books inherited from relatives and they are very special to me.
--BJ

Remember I'm in for the Inferno