"The first taste I had for books came to me from my pleasure in the fables of the Metamorphoses of Ovid. For at about seven or eight years of age I would steal away from any other pleasure to read them, inasmuch as this language was my mother tongue, and it was the easiest book I knew and the best suited by its content to my tender age." -Michel de Montaigne The Metamorphoses of Ovid (8 AD) is an epic poem by Ovid. Published the same year the poet was sent into exile for the rest of his life, the Metamorphoses are the crowning achievement of the first major poet of the Roman empire. Written in dactylic hexameter, the meter of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and of Virgil's Aeneid, Ovid's work is an epic poem of transformations, of shape-shifting matter and beings bound to the power of love. Taking as its scope the whole history of the universe from the arrangement of order from chaos to the death of Julius Caesar, the Metamorphoses pays heed to desire's ability to enact long-lasting and at times irreversible change. The story begins at the very beginning, with the creation of the cosmos out of nothing, of order out of unimaginable chaos. Gods and goddesses have their moment in the sun, mankind is born only to be wiped out by an immense flood, then to rise again. Amidst countless little-known descriptions of war, romance, and change are the timeless tales of Perseus, Jason and Medea, Theseus and the Minotaur, and the labors of Hercules. Icarus soars too close to the sun. Orpheus tragically condemns Eurydice to the underworld. Troy is built and destroyed, the immortal Achilles is killed, and Aeneas sets sail to save his life and lay the foundations for Rome itself. Throughout these interwoven stories of individual and epochal change, Ovid explores the inescapability of love and death, essential themes both shared by all and constitutive of everything that was or ever will be. The Metamorphoses of Ovid is an intricate masterpiece of world literature that stands the test of time just as much as it defines it. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Metamorphoses of Ovid is a classic work of Roman literature reimagined for modern readers.

"In the whole of European literature there is no poet who can furnish the texts for a more significant variety of discourse than Virgil. [He] symbolizes so much in the history of Europe, and represents such central European values..." -T.S. Eliot The Aeneid (19 BC) is an epic poem by Roman poet Virgil. Translated by English poet laureate John Dryden in 1697, Virgil's legendary epic is the story of the hero Aeneas, a castaway from Troy whose adventures across the Mediterranean led him to Italy, where he discovered what would later become the city of Rome. Presented here in faithful translation, though rearranged to accommodate Dryden's rhyming couplets, The Aeneid is a treasure of classical literature and a story of romance, war, and adventure to rival the best of Homer. "Arms, and the man I sing, who, forc'd by fate, / And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate, / Expell'd and exil'd, left the Trojan shore." Fleeing the destruction of Troy by Greek forces, Aeneas brings his son Ascanius and father Anchises on a voyage across the sea. Landing in Carthage, Aeneas, his family, and his crew are rescued by Dido, Queen of Tyre. There, Aeneas, despite mourning the loss of his beloved wife Creusa, falls in love with Dido, who offers him refuge and her devoted love. Knowing that he is destined to found a city in Italy, however, Aeneas abandons the queen, leading her to commit suicide. Now determined to fulfill his destiny at any cost, Aeneas sails to Sicily, journeys to the underworld, and eventually arrives in the region of Latium, where he is swept up in conflict with Turnus, the Rutulian king. Flawed and feared, Aeneas exemplifies the imperfect hero compelled by fate and the gods, yet ultimately driven through a will to survive and provide for his fledgling people. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Virgil's The Aeneid is a classic work of Roman literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Poetics is a fundamental text that examines the development, production and effectiveness of poetry as it pertains to a writer and their intended audience. The author uses notable works to educate the reader on specific themes and methodology. The Poetics gives a basic definition of poetry that establishes format and intent. It's an early representation of criticism that explores the allure of literature, specifically tragedy. Aristotle provides the essential function of plot, character, thought, diction, melody and spectacle. Each piece works together to create a cohesive story that delivers an emotional response. This can include a range of plot points highlighting love, loss, pain or acceptance. With this construction, the author elevates the narrative from superficial to significant. An examination of literary prose that illustrates the chief elements of poetry. The Poetics is a celebration of storytelling across multiple genres including tragedy, epics and romance. It's a revealing exploration of the potential and power of art. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Poetics is both modern and readable.

"The first taste I had for books came to me from my pleasure in the fables of the Metamorphoses of Ovid. For at about seven or eight years of age I would steal away from any other pleasure to read them, inasmuch as this language was my mother tongue, and it was the easiest book I knew and the best suited by its content to my tender age." -Michel de Montaigne The Amores (16 BC) is a book of love elegies by Ovid. Divided into three books, The Amores was one of the Roman poet's first published works, an ambitious and often scorned attempt at achieving fame which tapped into the ancient tradition of romantic poetry while exhibiting its author's keen sense for outrage and social satire. Far from relatable, Ovid's poet-narrator is a caricature of the desperate lover, an example of what not to do in romance, or rather of how to guarantee public embarrassment for oneself and one's horrified friends and family.At times serious, at others humorous, The Amores uses a mix of down-to-earth examples and relatable references to mythology in its dedicated portrayal of a man brought low with desire. Struck by Cupid himself, he longs for the lovely Corinna, a woman of higher class and of clearly higher grace. Despite his numerous efforts-begging at her door, threatening suicide, bribing her servants, and driving himself to the brink of insanity-the poet fails time and again to convince Corinna to be his constant companion. Consistently failing to use discretion, he illuminates the cruel and often one-sided nature of love, while also providing an unintentionally critical analysis of the role social class plays in policing desire. In passages ranging from the lofty to the bawdy, Ovid proves himself a poet on the doorstep of fame, a man both sure of his talent and desperate for success and affirmation. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ovid's The Amores is a classic work of Roman literature reimagined for modern readers.

"The first taste I had for books came to me from my pleasure in the fables of the Metamorphoses of Ovid. For at about seven or eight years of age I would steal away from any other pleasure to read them, inasmuch as this language was my mother tongue, and it was the easiest book I knew and the best suited by its content to my tender age." -Michel de Montaigne The Lover's Assistant; or, New Art of Love (1760) is an updated translation of Ovid's Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love (2 AD) by English satirist Henry Fielding. Divided into three books, Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love was immensely popular-if a little controversial-in its time, and has survived numerous charges of indecency over the centuries. For the modern reader, it should prove a surprisingly relatable work on intimacy from an author of the ancient world. Fielding's translation, of the first book alone, remains true to Ovid's Latin while updating its examples and historical context for the contemporary English reader. At times serious, at others humorous, The Lover's Assistant; or, New Art of Love uses a mix of down-to-earth examples and relatable references to mythology in order to offer salient advice for the reader longing for love. Maintaining much of Ovid's content, Fielding replaces the context of the poem-ancient Rome-with that of his contemporary England. Topics include etiquette, remembering birthdays, avoiding unhealthy jealousy, being open to older and younger lovers, and nurturing honesty. With his wry wit and clear-eyed sense of English aristocratic life, Fielding-who is seen as a pioneer of English literature for his work, including the comic novel Tom Jones (1749)-provides a loyal reinterpretation of Ovid's classic study of romance between men and women. The Lover's Assistant; or, New Art of Love, although frequently tongue-in-cheek, is an earnest and effective attempt to enlighten and encourage its readers to partake-responsibly-in one of life's greatest pleasures. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ovid's The Lover's Assistant; or, New Art of Love is a classic work of Roman literature reimagined for modern readers.

After receiving an ultimatum from Apollo, Orestes must decide if he'd rather face the wrath of the gods, or the earthly consequences for his actions When Orestes returns home to Agos after hearing of his father's death, he has a quest and a secret. Since he had been banished from the kingdom by his mother when he was young, he must pay respects to King Agamemnon in disguise. At the grave site he is reunited with his sister, Electra. Both scorned by Clytemnestra, the siblings share in their hatred of their mother and Orestes confides in Electra about his plot. When explains the Oracle of Apollo sent him to get vengeance for Agamemnon's murder, Electra agrees to help kill Clytemnestra and her lover, Aigisthos. Together they pray to their father, Agamemnon, asking his spirit to assist in getting revenge of his murder. Though Orestes received a blessing from the God Apollo, he must face many obstacles in order to achieve his plot. First, to be accepted in the palace, he must convince Clytemnestra and Aigisthos that he is just a traveler. He protects his identity pretending to be just a traveler and tricks Clytemnestra into believing that her banished son has died. Still, even as his plot slowly comes to fruition, Orestes must consider the emotional and moral toll of murder, and which harbinger of karma might decide to punish him. With high stakes and rich drama, The Libation Bearers follows a family cursed with the quest and thirst for vengeance, falling into an unforgiving cycle of bloodshed. As the second installment of Aeschylus' famed Oresteian trilogy, The Libation Bearers acts as both a stand-alone piece and a participant in the only surviving Greek trilogy. With complex characters and thrilling drama, Aeschylus' The Libation Bearers remains to be remarkable and intriguing to a modern audience. This addition of The Libation Bearers by the famed Greek playwright Aeschylus is now presented with an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a modern font. With these accommodations, The Libation bearers is accessible to a contemporary audience.

The Frogs follows interpersonal conflicts between men and women, Greek gods, and the natural and supernatural. Using extraordinary circumstances, the author provides commentary on multiple public figures spanning religion, politics and literature. The Frogs is one of Aristophanes' most notable works. The story centers on Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine, who's also known as a patron of the arts. In an effort to restore Greek tragedy to its former glory, Dionysus travels to the underworld to bring the late playwright Euripides back to life. While on this mission he encounters other prominent figures such as Aeschylus, the "Father of Tragedy," and Heracles, the Greek demigod. Aristophanes' work is filled with biting humor and colorful commentary that has stood the test of time. Unlike his peers, a portion of his plays (11 out of 40) survived his death and remain fully intact. The Frogs offers a glimpse into the impressive catalog that made Aristophanes one of the greatest playwrights of his era. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Frogs is both modern and readable.

The Love of Clitophon and Leucippe is an ancient Greek romance novel by Achilles Tatius. Considered an important predecessor to the modern novel, The Love of Clitophon and Leucippe has served as a model for such writers as Eusthathius Macrembolites and Alonso Nunez de Reinoso. The novel remains central to scholarship regarding the tradition of Greek romance novels written within the vast Roman Empire, and has been translated into numerous languages throughout the centuries. Of particular interest is its uncommon usage of first person narration, as well as its employment of ekphrasis and mythological digressions, formulas now commonplace, albeit in varying ways, within modern novel writing. Clitophon is a young man engaged to be married to his half-sister, Calligone. When his distant cousin Leucippe comes to Tyre to visit family, however, Clitophon finds himself hopelessly in love with her. As his wedding day approaches, Clitophon struggles with whether to commit to his vows or follow his wayward heart. Before he can decide, however, a man intending to kidnap Leucippe accidentally takes Calligone to Byzantium instead, where she is forced into marriage with Kallisthenes, her captor. No longer tied to his vows, Clitophon pursues Leucippe, with whom he elopes after a period of rejection from her mother. Sailing from Tyre, they are shipwrecked during a violent storm. Washing up on the coast of Egypt, Clitophon is rescued while Leucippe is captured by a group of bandits who resolve to sacrifice the young maiden. The Love of Clitophon and Leucippe is a story of love at first sight, of trial and error, and the lengths to which lovers will go to live with and for one another. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Achilles Tatius' The Love of Clitophon and Leucippe is a classic of ancient Greek literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Plays of Aristophanes (425 BC-388 BC) is a collection of comedies by Athenian playwright Aristophanes. Noted for his exploration of fantasy, sexuality, and contemporary politics, Aristophanes was a leading figure in Old Attic Comedy whose award-winning plays continue to delight and inspire nearly 2,500 years after they were first performed. This collection includes some of his best-known work, showcasing his talent as an unmatched humorist and shrewd social commentator whose words drew ire from Athenian general Cleon, Socrates, and Plato. In The Clouds, an indebted Athenian aristocrat enters a philosophical school despite his advanced age in order to sharpen his argumentative skills. There, he learns the recent teachings of Socrates and gets a chance to meet the legendary figure himself. Despite his earnest desire for enlightenment, Strepsiades proves shockingly inept and is forced to beg his young son for help. The Birds follows a pair of middle-aged men on a walk through the wilderness, where they encounter a former king who has been transformed into a bird. When a group of enraged birds holds them captive, suspecting the men of ill-intent, the two devise a plan to inspire the birds to challenge the Olympians and assert their power in the universal order. In Lystistrata, the title heroine leads a courageous campaign to put an end to the brutal Peloponnesian War. Her bold plan involves encouraging women throughout the warring city states of Greece to withhold sex from men until the violence is stopped. The Plays of Aristophanes is an invaluable collection of comedies from a leading playwright of Ancient Greece, a man whose work has survived for centuries while inspiring countless writers, readers, and audiences around the world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Aristophanes' The Plays of Aristophanes is a classic of Ancient Greek literature reimagined for modern readers.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that most of us could use some guidance. Whether you're looking to marry a man with several carriages to his name, are recovering from an illness caused by wet stockings or you're unsure what colour ribbon is the best match for your outfit, Jane Austen's wisdom is here to guide you through any problem. This deck of cards features insights from Austen's wide world of characters. Just shuffle the deck and pull the card on top. With illustrations of her beloved characters and their most enlightened quotes, they'll guide you through the day ahead and help you resolve your questions. Not sure you've made the right decision? "Better be without sense than misapply it as you do." Unsure what to do with your afternoon? "To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure, is the most perfect refreshment." Confused why you're struggling to make friends? "Your defect is a propensity to hate everybody." With 50 cards to pull from, this deck will give you the insights you need, whether your sister has eloped with your ex or you're in love with your step brother.

Adapted to better meet the needs of American college students, The Oxford Latin Course, College Edition, retains its trademark reading-based approach, but does so now in two companion volumes--Readings and Vocabulary and Grammar, Exercises, Context--that cover all of the topics essential to a first-year Latin course. OTHER NEW FEATURES: * Streamlined organization that focuses more closely on the life of the Roman poet Horace * Additional and more robust grammar explanations * Revised cartoons--completely redrawn for a college audience--that illustrate grammar points and provide students with "visual vignettes" * A revised narrative that corresponds to customary U.S. usage and Americanized spelling * A Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/morwood containing grammar and syntax drills, flashcards for vocabulary review, phonetic pronunciations, and instructional materials

Published in 1995: These three 14th century medieval Greek romances, which are presented here for the first time in English translation, form part of a curious and previously neglected corner of literature.

Le Chevalier au barisel is an established part of the Old French literary canon, but up to now it has not been available in English. This translation offers a vibrant but scholarly version of the exciting short story, suitable for a wide readership including university students, scholars of associated disciplines (history, English, theology, fine arts, comparative literature, etc.) and general readers. The greatest strength of the book is the translation itself, which can be read without reference to the original text or alongside the medieval French. But also valuable is the apparatus surrounding the text: cultural rather than linguistic, explicative rather than excessively technical. A substantial commentary reveals the internal struggles of the protagonists, highlights existing research and suggests future lines of enquiry. This commentary is a freestanding work of rigorous scholarship that makes plentiful reference to the text. -- .

The most famous and influential work of English fantasy ever published, reimagined for a new generation of readers by John Matthews, one of the world's leading Arthurian experts, and illustrated by internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist, John Howe. The tales of how the boy Arthur drew the Sword from the Stone, or the love of Lancelot and Guinevere, or how the knights of the Round Table rode out in search of the Holy Grail are known and loved the world over. It all began when an obscure Celtic hero named Arthur stepped on to the stage of history, sometime in the sixth century, and oral tales led to a vast body of stories from which, 900 years later, Thomas Malory wrote the famous Morte D'Arthur. THE GREAT BOOK OF KING ARTHUR presents these well-loved stories for a modern reader, for the first time collecting many tales of Arthur and his knights either unknown to Malory or written in other languages. Here, you will read of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight. You will learn of Gawain's strange birth, his upbringing amongst poor folk and his final rise to the highest possible rank - Emperor of Rome. There is also the story of Morien whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any to be found in the pages of Malory. In addition, there are some of the earliest tales of Arthur, deriving from the tradition of Celtic storytelling. Here is the original Arthur, represented in such powerful stories as 'The Adventures of Eagle-Boy', and 'The Coming of Merlin', based on the early medieval text Vita Merlini, which gives a completely new version of the great Enchanter's story. These age-old stories, still as popular today as they were from the Middle Ages onwards, are dramatically brought to life by the luminous paintings and drawings of John Howe, whose work on the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies has brought him a world-wide following.

Duanaire na Sracaire is the first anthology to bring together Scotland's Gaelic poetry from the millenium c.600-1600 AD, when Scotland shared its rich culture with Ireland. It includes a huge range of diverse poetry: prayers and hymns of Iona, Fenian lays, praise poems and satires, courtly songs and lewd rants, songs of battle and death, incantations and love poems. All poems appear with facing-page translations which capture the spirit and beauty of the originals and are accompanied by detailed notes. A comprehensive introduction sets the context and analyses the role and functions of poetry in Gaelic society. This collection will appeal to poetry lovers, Gaelic speakers and those keen to explore a vital part of Scotland's literary heritage. ...

This book is an anthology of Greek poetry written during the third to first centuries BC, the Hellenistic period. It is intended to make available to undergraduates and graduate students a selection of texts which are for the most part not easily accessible elsewhere. The volume contains a wide and representative range of poetry including hymns, didactic verse, pastoral poetry, epigrams and epic. An introduction provides cultural and historical background, and a full commentary elucidates problems of language and reference in the texts. In this second edition, many notes have been rewritten and the bibliography has been updated. The selection has also been augmented with three hundred more lines of Greek text (Theocritus poems 5 and 15), and is now more than 2000 lines in length.

This volume offers up-to-date translations of all 21 epistles of Ovid's Heroides. Each letter is accompanied by a preface explaining the mythological background, an essay offering critical remarks on the poem, and discussion of the heroine and her treatment elsewhere in Classical literature. Where relevant, reception in later literature, film, music and art, and feminist aspects of the myth are also covered. The book also contains an introduction covering Ovid's life and works, the Augustan background, the originality of the Heroides, dating, authenticity and reception. A useful glossary of characters mentioned in the Heroides concludes the book. This is a vital new resource for anyone studying the poetry of Ovid, Classical mythology or women in the ancient world.

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE YEAR LONGLISTED FOR THE ANGLO-HELLENIC LEAGUE RUNCIMAN AWARD 2022 'Peter Fiennes's road trip around Greece [is] engagingly described' Mary Beard, TLS 'Fiennes is a brilliant and generous guide through Greece' Observer 'A wonderful... really profound meditation on what it means to hope... a gorgeous excursion into Greece and across the centuries on an environmental quest' BBC Radio 4 Open Book Book of the Year choice by Anita Roy What do the Greek myths mean to us today? It's now a golden age for these tales - they crop up in novels, films and popular culture. But what's the modern relevance of Theseus, Hera and Pandora? Were these stories ever meant for children? And what's to be seen now at the places where heroes fought and gods once quarrelled? Peter Fiennes travels to the sites of some of the most famous Greek myths, on the trail of hope, beauty and a new way of seeing what we have done to our world. Fiennes walks through landscapes - stunning and spoiled - on the trail of dancing activists and Arcadian shepherds, finds the 'most beautiful beach in Greece', consults the Oracle, and loses himself in the cities, remote villages and ruins of this storied land.

Written by Leofranc Holford-Strevens to accompany his Oxford Classical Texts edition of Aulus Gellius' Noctes Atticae, this volume presents more expansive discussions and explanations of choices of readings at various places in the text than would be possible within the narrow confines of the edition's apparatus criticus (in which all passages discussed in Gelliana are marked with an asterisk). The grounds adduced are generally grammatical in the modern sense of the word, concerning accidence, vocabulary, or syntax, but sometimes invoke palaeography, logic, or other matters of content. Previous scholars, and also translations, are frequently cited in order either to credit the person first on record as having understood the text correctly or to indicate the source of a current misinterpretation. The preliminary matter includes an extensive list, significantly expanded from that drawn up by Martin Hertz, of places where scribes have inadvertently corrupted the text through inappropriate importation of the Christian terms with which they were familiar, while a separate appendix contains corrections to and revisions of passages in the author's previously published monograph Aulus Gellius: An Antonine Scholar and his Achievement (OUP 2003, corrected paperback 2005) and article 'Recht as een Palmen-Bohm and other Facets of Gellius' Medieval and Humanistic Reception' in The Worlds of Aulus Gellius (co-edited with Amiel D. Vardi, OUP 2004).

Relatively little is known of the life of Crinagoras of Mytilene: a Greek epigrammatist and diplomat who lived between the first centuries BC and AD, he was despatched to Rome as part of the embassies to Julius Caesar and Octavian, was held in high regard by his contemporaries, and divided his life between his home of Mytilene and the centre of the Roman Empire, where he was acquainted with the family of the emperor Augustus. Much of the detail we have to flesh out this brief account comes from his poems, which, in keeping with the genre, draw extensively on his personal experience and on the events of the day to provide a key source for the circumstances of his life. They are also eloquent and dynamic in their own right, and as a corpus they cover a wide thematic range: many were inspired by contemporary political or military events or by personal experiences, observations, or contemplation, though they also include several sepulchral epigrams concerning the deaths of persons the poet knew, and many which were composed as notes to be sent with gifts to friends or acquaintances. This new edition collects together all fifty-one of the surviving epigrams which have come down to us as part of the Greek Anthology. Presented here in a new critical text alongside engaging English translations, they are analysed in detail in an incisive introduction and exegetic word-by-word commentary, both as individual poems and as part of the corpus as a whole. With discussion throughout covering not only textual and stylistic matters, but also literary and historical context and Crinagoras' place within his social and cultural milieu, this edition provides a guide to the life and work of this understudied poet which is both authoritative and accessible.

Diane Arnson Svarlien's translation of Euripides' Andromache , Hecuba , and Trojan Women exhibits the same scholarly and poetic standards that have won praise for her Alcestis , Medea , Hippolytus . Ruth Scodel's Introduction examines the cultural and political context in which Euripides wrote, and provides analysis of the themes, structure, and characters of the plays included. Her notes offer expert guidance to readers encountering these works for the first time.

This study provides a critical edition of the Pervigilium Veneris with a Latin text, translation and commentary. This late-antique poem, the 'Vigil of Venus', is of unknown date and authorship. It exists in four heavily corrupted manuscripts, including the Codex Salmasianus, as part of a collection of later Latin poetry compiled around the 6th Century AD. Considerable attention has been paid to the piece since its first edition in the 16th century, largely on account of its singularity, mysterious origins and enigmatic final stanza, in which the poet suddenly bursts into the piece lamenting his 'lost muse'. Despite this scholarly interest, much work remained to be done in order to arrive at a more solid text of the poem and a more complete understanding of its meaning. This new edition, with detailed commentary notes and a full introduction to the historical and literary contexts of the poem, furthers our knowledge by offering new perspectives and analysis, incorporating existing scholarship and reviving ideas that had previously been set aside.