The Divina Comedia in breton language

The Divina Comedia, translated into Breton by Pêr Bourdellez, un prêtre, is better than a translation. Of the 15,000 verses that make up this great work of the late Middle Ages, about 5,000 have been composed in breton language, in an attempt to preserve the spirit of the language in the unfolding of a poetic journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

This book is much better than the translations in the novels in french, emphatic and tedious, with words and phrases luziet and foreign to us. Rather, we have a brilliant, easy-to-read adaptation of a work that founded Italian literature 800 years ago, full of imagination and motivated by a deep and living faith.

There are no new words in this Breton text. Unlike the French publications, no attempt has been made to translate words that come from Greek, for example, « Empyrée » : the phrase « Le Trône » has been chosen.

It seems to us that Breton spirituality is very close to the theme of the Journey (see the Journey of St. Brendan and the foundation of Little Brittany by our ancestors fifteen centuries ago). Is there really another people in the world who would be closer to the spirit of our mille vieilles chansons known not so long ago, and who have been influenced, of course, by Dante ? There are mentions, for example, of « L'enfer froid », of the countless angels flying like bees, of details similar to « Le Purgatoire de St. Patrick » compiled in 4000 verses by Louis Eunius at the end of the 18th century in breton, « La fille mariée à Satan » in the Barzhaz of Brittany...

It is also clear that this kind of literature suits us very well, when we are with Gwerzioù, based in Breton for at least four centuries : dramatic tales told in the corner of the fireplace during the winter holidays. To sing them, however, it would have been necessary to be able to rhyme and find rhymes of equal length. Pêr Bourdellez has preferred to work on finding a harmonious rhythm for the verses, and he has succeeded, he believes.

Pre-order by sending a check of 20 euros for this book 200 pages + pictures in color (Imbourc'h c/ Emglev an Tiegezhioù, Kergreven 24, 29800 Trelevenez, or by credit card through helloasso https://www.helloasso.com/associations/amglev-an-tiegezhiou/paiements/pre-preparadur-an-divina-comedia-e-brezhoneg.