The classic prose translation by Mary Innes of one of the masterpieces of Latin literature, Ovid's "Metamorphoses". Ovid draws from Greek mythology, Latin tradition, and distant legends to create a series of narrative poems, ingeniously linked by the common theme of transformation. Here, a chaotic universe is subjected to harmonious order: animals are turned to stone, men and women become trees and stars. Ovid transformed the art of storytelling, breathing new life into these tales through subtlety, humor, and understanding of human nature, while elegantly adapting tone and rhythm to suit a variety of themes. The result is an enduring treasure of myths and traditions.
Ovid was born in 43 BC in central Italy. He was sent to Rome, where he realized that his talent lay in poetry rather than politics. His first published work was the "Amores," a collection of short love poems. He was exiled in 8 AD by Emperor Augustus for unknown reasons and went to Tomis on the Black Sea, where he died in 17 AD. Mary M. Innes graduated from the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford, and then taught at the universities of Belfast and Aberdeen before spending about twenty years proving to girls that classical languages can and should be enjoyed.
Pages: 368, Dimensions: 13x13cm
