In keeping with the idea of reviewing the product, let me say first and foremost that Canterbury classics does an excellent job with their leather bound hardback books. Gilded edges, ivory white paper, beautifully died and bound leather cover/back/spines make these a wonderful addition to your bookshelf or display, whether or not you've actually read the story. The price is amazing for all the accoutrement mentioned, with even their most expensive titles costing 30 bucks or less.As far as The Divine Comedy is concerned, I do not recommend this translation to any novice willing to tackle Alighieri's classic. In presentation, the book is beautiful, but Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's translation is full of outdated, archaic nomenclature that basically requires you have a dictionary and smartphone/computer bookmarked to sparknotes or cliffnotes in order to decipher each canto on an individual basis. It could take you several weeks or months in order to finish the story.There are cheaper, easier to read alternatives for this story all over the internet and the story itself is public domain, so unless you absolutely want a decorative piece or gift, this version may not be for you.That being said, I love this version of the book. For the price, I highly recommend this book to any collector or person who appreciates literature.