Synopses & Reviews
A faithful yet totally original contemporary spin on a classic, Dante's Inferno as interpreted by acclaimed artist Sandow Birk and writer Marcus Sanders is a journey through a Hell that bears an eerie semblance to our own world. Birk, hailed by the Los Angeles Times as one of "realism's edgier, more visionary painters," offers extraordinarily nuanced and vivid illustrations inspired by Gustave Dore's famous engravings. This modern interpretation depicts an infernal landscape infested with mini-malls, fast food restaurants, ATMs, and other urban fixtures, and a text that cleverly incorporates urban slang and references to modern events and people (as Dante did in his own time). Previously published in a deluxe, fine-press edition to wide praise, and accompanied by national exhibitions, this striking paperback edition of Dante's Inferno is a genuinely provocative and insightful adaptation for a new generation of readers.
Review
"[Birk and Sanders's] sophisticated Valley-speak ('the ghosts approached us, all totally deadpan, with zero emotion') may not be for everyone, but it is in synch with Dante's vernacular masterpiece." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[Birk and Sanders] offer a modern twist on Dante's poem by updating the illustrations and settings to the current slices of hell we experience everyday....Perhaps a bit way out for some but pretty cool nonetheless." Library Journal
About the Author
Sandow Birk is a recipient of both Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships. His work has been exhibited widely and published in several books. He lives in Long Beach, California. Marcus Sanders is a contributing editor for Surfing and Surfline, and has written for numerous travel and surfing magazines. Born and raised in Canada, he lives in San Francisco.