Buondì.
Today’s canto from Dante’s Inferno (Canto XV) is salacious, to say the least.
Dante bumps into one of his former teachers, whose fate is to “vagare senza mai fermarsi per la landa desertica, sotto la pioggia di fiamme” (roam the desert without ever stopping under the rain of fire).
But what’s the poor man done?
Dante is sad but not surprised at his maestro’s fate: “i fiorentini erano famosi in tutta Europa perché praticavano il sesso anale”, apparently.
And that’ll get you non-stop flame-grilled desert-wandering!
Anyway, it turns out that this particular circle of hell is full of “cherci e litterati grandi e di gran fama” (clerics and famous writers).
Including… Well, you’ll never guess who!
Him? Really? Well, I can’t say that’s a surprise… We all knew, didn’t we?
But Dante, you gossip, you are wicked!
(Who else did you see there??)
Canto XV | Literature page (which I may now rename ‘Sodomy Corner’ or some such…)
E poi, Monday we have a new ebook out.
Here’s a sneek preview:
Why does a village traffic accident, which results in no injuries besides some damage to a roadside oak tree, have everyone so worried?
Luisa, who’s spending a month with her grandparents, will keep asking questions until someone tells her what’s going on!
What is ‘Il mistero della quercia’?
What indeed? Looks like good stuff, huh?
Oh all right, you convinced me!
For those that prefer mysteries to medieval gossip, here’s the Free Sample Chapter (.pdf).
The complete version of the ebook (including Kindle and other ebook reader compatible formats) will be out on Monday.
And at a special launch price!
So that’s two things to read today.
Plus, when you’re done with tittle-tattle, and the whodunit, don’t forget to listen to Thursday’s bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news.
It’s free. And very, very useful for developing listening skills.
Bene, that’s more or less it for this week!
A lunedì, allora.
Buon fine settimana.
