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    The Dante Club
    The Dante Club
    The Dante Club
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Dante Club

    Written by Matthew Pearl

    Narrated by John Seidman

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In 1865 Boston, the members of the Dante Club -- poets and Harvard professors Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell, along with publisher J.T. Fields -- are finishing America's first translation of The Divine Comedy and preparing to unveil Dante's remarkable visions to the New World. The powerful Boston Brahmins at Harvard College are fighting to keep Dante in obscurity, believing that the infiltration of foreign superstitions onto American bookshelves will prove as corrupting as the immigrants living in Boston Harbor.

    As they struggle to keep their sacred literary cause alive, the plans of the Dante Club are put in further jeopardy when a serial killer unleashes his terror on the city. Only the scholars realize that the gruesome murders are modeled on the descriptions from Dante's Inferno and its account of Hell's torturous punishments. With the lives of the Boston elite and Dante's literary future in America at stake, the Dante Club must find the killer before the authorities discover their secret.

    The Dante Club is a magnificent blend of fact and fiction, a brilliantly realized paean to Dante, his mythic genius, and his continued grip on our imaginations.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJun 1, 2006
    ISBN9780743563925
    The Dante Club
    Author

    Matthew Pearl

    Matthew Pearl’s novels have been international and New York Times bestsellers translated into more than 30 languages. His nonfiction writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, The Atavist Magazine, and Slate. The New York Daily News raves "if the past is indeed a foreign country, Matthew Pearl has your passport." Matthew has been chosen Best Author for Boston Magazine's Best of Boston and received the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction. 

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    Reviews for The Dante Club

    3.5/5

    88 ratings68 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The ending was slightly disappointing, but only in that "sometimes movies are disappointing in the end" way. That is, it wrapped everything up very nicely in the same way that movies of this nature do. It falls back into personal lives and there's a touching moment between Longfellow and his daughters, we learn that the translation goes on successfully, and there is an entire chapter dedicated to the murderer, the events of his life and therefore his motivations for the killings, and how he was punished. Just as when I see suspenseful yet mysterious movies that are very good in the bulk, I found myself reading the last few pages of this book wondering why it was necessary to include.However, the ending is not horrible or so badly fit as to leave a stain on my overall impression of the book. It was excellent, and without a doubt one of my new favorite novels. I enjoyed it so thoroughly that I even bought it as a Christmas present for my friend Morgan before I even finished it (she is a fan of Dante and this was one of the first conversations we had about literature, so after the first 20 or 30 pages I knew she'd appreciate its literary and historical value). Richard and I were having a discussion about similarly written books and movies; I don't recall which movie we were specifically talking about, but the annoyance at taking "real-life" people and creating characters and stories around them was mentioned. For example, the main characters in this book were existing authors (and well-known), and so was their "Dante Club" and translation of the poem. However, the murders never happened and certainly neither did their detective work in relation to those murders. I think a lot of people have a problem with this kind of writing, how these books are written so close to the truth that they almost seem true (and, indeed, some people think them so). Now that I've thought that, I believe it was The Da Vinci Code we were talking about, because I'd seen the movie that night (not as bad as I expected, though still not recommended). Jesus, presumably, existed, as did Mary Magdalene and the other religious figures involved. The Knights Templar legends exist, and the Opus Dei as well. I haven't read the book so I only have the movie to go on, but it seems that Dan Brown took all these things and wrote an historical novel from them, right? Well, then, why is it that I've had several people ask me to take them to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and then complain that where I lead them is the section labeled "Fiction/Literature"? Why do people expect this book to be in "World History" or "History/Theology"? I think that is why people dislike this method of historical writing - as I said, taking real elements and rewriting them in a fictional world. Personally, I can discern a line between fact and fiction and enjoy a book that is written so well that it even has me questioning history. I almost wanted to Google search the occurrence of these murders, because they were so involved in these authors' lives that "True Crime" seemed a more appropriate section. Outside of the book, though, I know I'm reading fiction, and the only "truth" is the truth of the world which I am visiting when I open that book. This is a world in which authors become detectives and Civil War veterans become murderers.I think it's not the authors and the books that should be frustrating - rather, the readers. Anyone who believes The Da Vinci Code really happened should be shot, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. I think if an author can write historical fiction so well that it seems to be true, he or she deserves some kind of award. They've obviously done their research efficiently and thoroughly.
    • 4/5
      Who would have thought that a poet (Dante) could ignite such passions in 19th century Boston? This is a clever thriller/historical novel that casts poets such as Longfellow and Lowell as hero crime fighters. While the Dante inspired murders are a bit gruesome, the cleverness of the tale holds your attention.
    • 4/5
      Loved this book. Torn here, but don't think I can go to 5 stars... Does occasionally fall into the same trap so many historical mystery/fiction novels do where they really let you know how much research they did. Overall very, very good, however.
    • 3/5
      This started out a little slow, but I think this was a good one to listen to. The narrator gave each of the characters their own voice and took the language to heart, which added a lot to this period piece. I was worried that my next to no knowledge of Dante's Inferno was going to affect my understanding and appreciation of this book, but I found that I had nothing to worry about. All references to Dante was explained well to the reader and gave a nice backbone to the story. I'll be curious to try some of Pearl's other books.
    • 4/5
      This book sounded like it would appeal to me for several reasons. It's a mix of genres--historical fiction and mystery--like two favorite books of mine, The Alienist and The Name of the Rose. Like The Alienist, it incorporates real historical figures; like The Name of the Rose it involves connections to a great work of literature. In this novel, set right after the end of the American Civil War, Boston area "fireside poets" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Lowell and Oliver Wendell Holmes and their publisher JT Fields are drawn to investigate a serial killer when they realize he's modeling his murders after the punishments in Dante's Inferno. It took a while for me to be drawn into this novel--and in fact, in the first 40 pages I thought this might be one I left unfinished. Pearl writes using an omniscient narrative, switching points of view within scenes frequently and I find such "head hopping" disorienting unless its accompanied by a strong narrative voice. Also, Lowell and Holmes in the beginning struck me as unlikable pompous blowhards. Around page fifty though, when the Dante angle and actual investigations started to kick in, I began to get absorbed, and by page 100 I found this a page-turner--I was completely engrossed from there on end, and by the end felt affection even for Holmes. It probably helps I am a Dante fan--I count The Divine Comedy as among my favorite works, and enjoyed the various references and allusions, even insights. Even though I've read more than one annotated translation, for instance, it never hit me that Dante was--or at least might have been--modeling his hell on war. Nor did I have any idea it was once so controversial among American scholars and not well known by Americans before Longfellow's translation.In the end I'd say I'd say I enjoyed this as much as The Alienist, although I don't consider it the equal of The Name of the Rose. Without getting into spoilers for either book, I found the way the themes of the book that inspired the murders, the motives of the murderer and climax of all the novel was brought off brilliantly in Eco's novel. In comparison I thought the resolution in The Dante Club is weaker in plot and theme--the motives too serial killer pot-boiler and less unified and inspired.
    • 3/5
      In post civil war Boston, a group of literary figures forms a club to prepare an English translation of Dante's Divine Comedy in order to introduce Dante to America. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes, J. T. Fields (James Thomas Fields), and George Washington Greene work on translating the Inferno, they face more serious problems than differing interpretations of the same verse. The Harvard Corporation, headed by Dr. Manning, attempts to use its influence to block publication in a misguided attempt to protect public morality. Also, a killer has begun a string of serial murders that replicate the punishments that Dante allotted to the various circles of hell.Knowing that there are only a handful of people aware of Dante's work, the Dante Club realizes that if a connection is made, they would be the prime (and maybe the only) suspects for the police. Also, any public connection of Dante to these murders would doom the translation project that they have devoted themselves to. Therefore, the Dante Club decides to not tell the police of the literary connection and begins its own investigation. Thus begins the story.While the summary appears to be that of a mystery book, the focus of the story is the work and translation of Dante. The book is more of a love-letter to Dante than a thriller, and it succeeds in that respect. When I was less that half way through the book, I was already trying to find a good translation of Dante. Allen Mandelbaum's translation is now on the top of my "books to be purchased" list.Matthew Pearl clearly did his research -- Longfellow, Holmes, Lowell, Fields, and Greene are all well-developed, as is the Boston setting. However, Pearl's writing style is abrupt, almost choppy and therefore makes it difficult for the reader to ever get completely immersed in the story or into the book. But even with the flow of the story handicapped, Pearl manages to make the members of the Dante Club inspiring.
    • 5/5
      18th century Boston is being terrorized by a serial killer who is re-enacting scenes from Dante's inferno. Yet, It's still in Italian and only a select few can even read and understand it, making the suspect pool very small...and including the Fireside poets: Lowell, Holmes, Longfellow.This is a great historical mystery, the only kind I like. The author does a nice job of developing each character, the reclusive Longfellow, the full of himself Lowell, the pretentious, yet cautious Holmes. And, a good background of Boston 19th century. It almost made me want to pick-up the Fireside poets and read...almost. I love the group as detectives. This is an excellent read and I can't read Pearl's next historical novel.
    • 5/5
      I have been trying to read Dante so these parallel crimes made curious explanation
      Also quite good insights into Dante and his poem
    • 3/5
      A literary mystery--so many of these seem to be appearing these days. The twists and turns are exciting, the exploration of Dante and the translation by Longfellow is fun. I found the book to be rather enjoyable. I have another of Pearl's books to read. I enjoyed this. It was a fun read.
    • 1/5
      The author is a recent Harvard grad whose knowledge of Dante, Longfellow, Holmes, and Lowell are encyclopedic--in a bad way. He tries desperately to turn his obvious "book smarts" into intrigue but, unfortunately, never quite makes it off the ground.
    • 4/5
      Historical murder mystery set in Boston in 1865. Someone is modeling murders after the punishments doled out in Dante’s Inferno. The poet Longfellow and his friends are working on the first American translation of Dante’s The Divine Comedy. Feeling responsibility about what happened, the group tries to solve the murder. Wordy and slow at times, but a good mystery; “whodunit” was a complete surprise to me.
    • 3/5
      In the back of The Dante Club, there is a Historical Note about the sources for the book, and there is a Reader's Guide that features an interview with author Matthew Pearl. In this interview, he states that there is no need to be familiar with the real-life characters used in this book or The Divine Comedy by Dante to enjoy the murder mystery that unfolds. Wrong. In my opinion. I do believe that someone familiar with all of the above will have a much richer read of this story.The writing itself is skillful, but the story was too labored. The drawn-out information about The Divine Comedy left me bored. The addition of the black officer, although true to historical facts of the time, seemed gratuitous to me. It seemed that Mr. Pearl was trying to add legitimacy and color (no pun intended) to the story by throwing in these facts, although realistic, felt very forced to me. The murders were interesting, copied from The Inferno's layers of hell, and I think had he just stayed with the murder mystery instead of trying to give us a history lesson, the experience would have been more appreciated.
    • 3/5
      Really nice, interesting historical mystery. Always fun to have real people as part of a mystery. Not for the weak of stomach -- I still can't look at certain bugs!
    • 2/5
      Sounded like a great story. But there is too much literary waffling going on and too little snooping. After 172 pages of poetic soulsearching by the members of the Dante Club I gave up in frustration. "Captivating thriller"? Not likely. "Sparkling with erudition" - I asked some very educated people whose mother tongue is English, nobody could even tell me what that means. All around a very unsatisfying experience.
    • 4/5
      The Dante Club purports to recreate the atmosphere of the immediate post-Civil War New England literary establishment. Further, it appears that there really was an immediate post-Civil War New England literary establishment, comprising [inter alia] Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes [pere, the poet-essayist-doctor--his son, the future Supreme Court jurist, is still in law school], James Russell Lowell, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. It seems that all early American intellectuals went by three names, e.g., Edgar Allen Poe.The plot is preposterous, but somewhat fun. Longfellow is leading an effort to translate The Divine Comedy for the 600th annivesary of Dante's birth, but the Harvard corporation opposes the effort because it would dilute the study of Greek and Latin and possibly influence the young students with Roman Catholic ideas!!A series of grizly murders takes place in which the victims share some of the punishments meted out by Dante to some of the residents of the Inferno. The literati not only solve the mysteries by identifying the perpetrator, but also apprehend him. James Russell Lowell is the most physically fit of the geniuses, but little O.W.H, Sr. saves the day.The writing is a little precious, but it mimics my impression of the diction of the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table [O.W.H.]. As a thriller, it doesn't have much to offer: the stilted speech of protagonists tends to dilute the inherent drama of the events described. The book gives us a little flavor of the Inferno, which is by far the most interesting of the Comedie's Canticles. [Dante's Purgatorio is not that interesting and the Paradiso is boring enough to induce the reader to avoid salvation.]The book is worth reading, but I was a bit disappointed because it was so favorably reviewed. [JAB]
    • 5/5
      I loved this book, and bought it purely from reading the back of the jacket. I really enjoyed the way Pearl uses fact and then combines that with a great murder mystery, and I was even tempted to read Dante's 'Inferno' after finishing this book. There are some really gruesome scenes, which just goes to show that even before the advent of film and tv, Dante was able to give readers of 'The Inferno' a pretty nasty vision of hell. All in all a great read, kept me enthraled for hours (only took me a couple of days to read) and have read it again since, and will most probably do so again.
    • 4/5
      Boston 1865. A serie of murders, all of them inspired by scenes in Dante's inferno. Only an elite group of America's first Dante scholars - Henry Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russel Lowell, and J.T. Fields - can solve the mystery. With the police baffled, more, lives endangered, and Dantes literary futur at stake, the Dante Club must shed is sheltered litrary existence and find the killer.
    • 4/5
      On the heels of the Civil War's end, a number of grisly murders begin occurring near Boston. These murders are not only shocking in their cruelty but also because the victims are chief citizens of the town (a judge, a minister, etc.) -- not the usual targets of miscreants. At the same time, some of the greatest literary minds of New England are working on the first American translation of Dante's Divine Comedy. When the members of the Dante Club look closer at the murders, they realize that the murders are copycats of the punishments seen in Dante's hell. They realize that they are the only ones who can find the murderer, and a race against the clock begins as they try to stop the murderer from striking again. On the plus side, this book contains lively characters engaged in an intriguing and suspenseful plot. On the down side, the narrative is gruesome in detail at times and very jumpy, which is sometimes simply jarring, other times a bit difficult to follow, and a few times feels like important details were left out. However, as I mentioned above, the suspense will keep you turning the page, waiting to see what will happen next, and trying to figure out the mystery along with the Dante club.
    • 2/5
      At the outset it’s the 1860s. It's Boston, Massachusetts. And everyone loves Longfellow. And at the end it's the 1860s, it's Boston, Massachusetts and everyone loves Longfellow. What happens in between is of very little consequence, apparently. The opening third of the novel introduces an array of characters but with stifled characterisation and generic dialogue, it is hard to isolate any of them from Pearl's heaving-going prose and slow-moving plot.It does get better. There is a mystery here - and it's a good mystery at that, with twists and turns and an ultimately satisfying denouement - but it unfolds almost entirely in the last third of the novel. Those that don't make it that far through the quagmire of an opening will miss it entirely. Pearl's writing at times verges on turgid and yet at times it can be vivid and precise. The few pages that recount a soldier's experience in the Civil War, for example, are compelling, grotesque and in some senses exquisite. This is Pearl at his best, and a fine standard it is too, but the rest of the novel doesn't live up to such talent or the hype that surrounded the publication of The Dante Club; and it certainly isn't worth reading in entirety for such small snippets To put it bluntly, Pearl uses too many words.The depth of Pearl's researches into literary and social history are evident and his analysis of post-Civil War Bostonian politics sharp and insightful - but both are presented is a such as way as to make the reader feel like a contrite parishioner being sermonised from the pulpit. The absence of lightness from Pearl's prose and the lack of grace in his novel's structure leave the impression that lessons in history and politics have been shoe-horned into to what otherwise might have been a passably good literary mystery.
    • 3/5
      Read: August 21-31, 2009*******SPOILERS************Synopsis: In 1865 Boston, a judge is found behind his house covered in blood, maggots, and blowflies. Shortly after, a reverend is found deep in underground tunnels beneath the church. He is buried head first, his feet on flames. African American patrolman and the Boston police are stumped. An elite club of Harvard scholars and literary celebrities believes it must solve the murders in order to protect its namesake. The Dante club includes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, and J.T. Fields, who spend their time translating Dante's Inferno from Itallian. They fear that if the public makes a connection between the murders and Dante, that their project and Dante will be shunned and banned from Boston. They set out to find the murderer.Pros & Cons: The first 100 pages or so were extremely slow and wordy. I enjoy reading a variety of genres and styles, but even I found it difficult to comprehend what was happening. I felt like a needed to be sitting in an ivy league library smoking a pipe and drinking scotch or whisky. The book finally became interesting once the club began to try to solve the mystery. The action and suspense were well written, and the descriptions of Dante and the murders were graphic. It was interesting to have such literary stars as the main characters. As intelligent and thought out as the beginning was, the ending falls short. The premise is good, but it feels quickly wrapped up. I feel like the solution to the mystery is perfect, just poorly written, and not along the lines with the rest of the book.
    • 4/5
      The first time I read this book, I stopped after the second chapter because of the pace. However, when I listened to it later, I realized it was a great story. Pacing is a constant problem with the book, but the pacing is similar to many classics, so it can be forgiven.
    • 5/5
      If you love books, literature and a good thriller-mystery, this is the book for you! I'd say its a little bit reminiscent of Dan Brown, but in a much smarter way.
    • 3/5
      A serial killer strikes in 19th century Boston, using the methods described in Dante's Inferno to dispose of his victims. I haven't ever read Dante, and after this, I really don't want to. Nasty stuff. I think he must have been seriously ill to come up with such tortures as this.The appeal of this book was in watching Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell, along with publisher J. T. Fields wander around trying to solve the crimes. It reminded me of The Alienist, but this one was just not as good. It wasn't awful, but I didn't feel that I really knew the characters as well as I needed to. The plot was also really farfetched. But it was compelling enough that I finished it. 3 stars
    • 4/5
      An interesting historical mystery with an interesting premise with Boston of 1865 at the background.Pearl has to be commended for coming up with this page turner and bringing forth the concept of poets becoming investigators in gruesome murders.
    • 4/5
      A few months ago, I read a brief description of The Dante Club, by Matthew Pearl, so I did a bit of online research about the novel, and uncovered the first chapter at the author's website. After reading a few reviews of the work, I felt that I should read the entire thing, but first I had to wait for its publication. Each of the protagonists in this work appeals to me. They are American historical figures who lived and worked in Boston during the 1860s. These fellows notice a literary pattern in a rash of local killings, so they are compelled to discover the criminal's identity. The bulk of the work is fictitious, of course, but the novel's premise intrigued me. Later, I ordered it and read the whole thing over a rainy weekend.Then, I found it necessary to let this book slosh around in my skull before I recorded my thoughts.As a rule, I enjoy novels that are grounded in historical fact. Pearl's work is no exception. His research efforts seem of indisputably high quality, and although I cannot profess to know anything about Boston or the post-Civil War era, or even academics in Harvard, this novel resonates because of its firm historical footing: it is better than many similar genre novels.This book hit a particular chord with me, because, you see, my employer is going through a transition much like the one Pearl depicts in 1860s Harvard. Our employees feel that, on one hand, we may be on the cusp of something new and grand; or, perhaps, if the glove is forced onto our ill-fitting other hand, a recalcitrant few in our administration may ensure that our work crumbles. It is this particular sentiment that I liked the most about Pearl's novel. I enjoyed the lift it gave my heart. I like to see that somebody can indeed defeat the system and push a worthy agenda. All he has written about the Harvard Administration has basis in historical fact, I assume. If so, kudos to Messrs. Longfellow, Holmes and Lowell for publishing Dante's Inferno in an atmosphere that simply rumbles with academic dissent.This novel starts with great strength. My favorite sentence, in fact, is the second: "...the Irish woman who had discovered the body was blubbering and wailing prayers unfamiliar (because they were Catholic) and unintelligible (because she was blubbering)." I remember thinking as I read this, "Wow, this guy is young and has writing potential. What a great opening." Pearl's care for words is nearly as strong as his interest in historicity. It is obvious that throughout the novel he has worked hard to build a strong narrative voice.Despite his strong opening, however, Pearl falls short with annoying consistency. A few areas glare at the reader; especially with voice transitions in the text. I recall, in particular, a scene where the narrator's mind enters a location with Professor Lowell, and emerges from the place with Professor Holmes, without even a transitional break in the narrative. For me, these moments produce disturbing ruptures in what was otherwise a very good read.I also felt that the end of the novel drives the work to anticlimax. The third-to-last chapter is very exciting, and the final chapter is excellent, but the penultimate chapter deadens the story. Many readers will enjoy this chapter, because the murderer's identity and life history are revealed. It was not the information that bothered me but its delivery. It left me with the feeling that I had ridden to the top of the Ferris wheel, and was forced to wait for a half dozen other cars to disembark before the experience ended.The novel has been lauded as a mystery, and so it is, complete with a police chief, and the intelligent but misunderstood beat cop. If Pearl's book has a downfall, it is his construction of a heavy plot-dependency, rather than a strong treatment of a theme. A powerful, cohesive theme would have done wonders for the work; instead, the author seems to sell himself short of his full potential. As a mystery, this work is very good, but there are loads of very good mysteries out there. As a work of literature, it had the proficiency, but did not quite attain greatness.I also struggled with one character, a beat cop. Although I readily admit that I enjoyed the character--he was well-conceived and entirely believable--I take issue with the necessity of this character at all. Pearl tells his reader that no such person existed at this time in history, so why was he there at all? His presence adds to the plot intrigue, I suppose, and serves to unveil the corrupt tactics of the post-War Boston police. But police corruption could have been unveiled any number of other ways. This novel is rooted so deeply in history that when it employs a fictitious secondary character, it only detracts from the story's overall believability. In this novel, the line between fact and fiction is already very thin, and Pearl tends to construct his plot by erring on the side of fact. An important and extremely noticeable fictitious character is in stark contrast to Pearl's original vision.I cannot finish this review without mention of the foreword. Its author used a tone that is antagonistic, condescending and seemingly jealous of Pearl's project. Shame on this person: the foreword is a pompous embarrassment that does nothing for the novel itself, and generally discredits the academic integrity of the writer of the forward itself. I read it three times with complete disbelief, hoping each time that I misunderstood what the writer was saying. Take my word and skip this foreword: Pearl's work is due far more credit than these misanthropic statements give him.Finally, a personal note to Mr. Pearl: Your work is excellent. If you develop a major theme, this will strengthen your prose substantially. I am confident that with your skills, you can produce a real gem.
    • 4/5
      Boston, 1865. A series of murders, all of them inspired by scenes in Dante’s Inferno. Only an elite group of America’s first Dante scholars—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, and J. T. Fields—can solve the mystery. With the police baffled, more lives endangered, and Dante’s literary future at stake, the Dante Club must shed its sheltered literary existence and find the killer.
    • 3/5
      I picked this up in a used book shop namely because it was a New York Times bestseller and it had Dante in the title. I'm not much of a mystery fan, or so I like to think, but I was completely enthralled start to finish in the quest of who-done-it, Inferno-style. As the grotesque murders continue and the police have no leads, the Dante Club, a group of literary minds who are at work on the first English translation of Inferno, are Boston's only hope of returning to normalcy.This is the type of historical fiction that leads you to reconsider what you thought you knew about our past. You don't have to be an avid reader of Dante to enjoy the story and understand the literary mystery lurking in the city streets of 1865. It's simply pleasure and hidden amazement start to finish.
    • 3/5
      Disappointing read: Like many of the other reviewers, I was intrigued by the premise of this book and so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Having read the book I now wish I hadn't bothered, as I found it hard-going from the start and the ending offered little in the way of reward. The book seems to be dragged down by a lot of unnecessary detail about the members' of the Dante Club personal lives - which I didn't feel added anything to the novel.
      On the positive side, I did find the descriptions of life as a soldier in the Civil War (which is relayed towards the end of the novel) interesting, but still not enough to redeem the rest of the book, hence the '**' rating.
    • 4/5
      Seems like I've been wanting to read this one for a LONG time & was finally able to get to it on audio. I'd heard so many raves about it, but I felt let down. I thought it was just "okay". As sick as it sounds, I really liked the descriptions of the murders the most & almost wished there were more of them in the story due to the uniqueness of each one. But ultimately, I found the story too drawn out and for some reason had a lot of trouble keeping the characters straight, despite the fact that they were almost all well-know writers, poets, publishers, etc. That may have been due in part because of the audio format, but perhaps also due to my ignorance in previous knowledge of these characters. Maybe...or maybe not. This is one instance where I think I may have gotten more out of an abridged edition, as I thought this story just dragged on a little too long.
    • 3/5
      A rather silly book in which the members of a high society Dante Club in Boston try to solve a series of murdres in which the murderer is inspired by Dante's Inferno. An engaging start, if you accept the rather silly premise. Does seem to drag a bit near the end but is still amusing overall.