Letter: The opening line of Dante's 'Hell'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: While welcoming Ian Thomson's positive review of my translation of Dante's Hell ('A grand tour in the circles of hell'; Books, 26 February), I was disappointed that he didn't like 'trek' in the opening line ('Halfway through our trek in life').
With an opening as well-worn as Dante's, it seemed important to make a bid straight away for the kind of translation I wanted, one condensed and colloquial. 'Trek' also suggests something dour and fatiguing; it's a word York City supporters might use to describe a trip to Crewe, or my ageing mother for her journey to the local shops, and it's surely sufficiently naturalised into English to evoke no longer Afrikaans ox wagons.
I've floated 'trek' up and down the country in talking about the translation in the last year, and a majority of my audience seem to have favoured it; at any rate, it provoked a response.
Can anyone feel aroused, for or against, by the line Mr Thomson would put in its place, Longfellow's 'Midway upon the journey of our life'?
Yours faithfully,
STEVE ELLIS
Harborne, West Midlands
3 March
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments