This volume offers updated translations of all 21 letters of Ovid from the Heroides. Each letter is accompanied by a preface explaining the mythological background, an essay providing critical commentary on the poem, and discussions about the heroine and her treatment elsewhere in classical literature. Where relevant, the reception in later literature, film, music, and art is covered, as well as the feminist aspects of the myth.
The book also includes an introduction covering the life and works of Ovid, the Augustan background, the originality of the Heroides, dating, authenticity, and reception. A helpful glossary of characters referenced in the Heroides complements the book.
This is an important new resource for anyone studying the poetry of Ovid, classical mythology, or women in the ancient world.
