Customer Reviews

The Art of Love (Modern Library Classics)

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A seemingly tongue-in-cheek imitation didactic poem on seduction and love-making. The poem reads like an instruction manual, but Ovid uses the form of a love poem and numerous digressions to enhance the humour. However, he does make some strong points about how both sexes use deception in courtship (a woman's pleasure adds to the overall enjoyment of love-making, etc.) making one think that he wanted to educate while deflecting criticism by taking the humourous approach. It didn't work, apparently, as he was soon aftewards exiled.

Regarding James Michie's translation - this is an excellent form for this work. The translation respects the form of the original poem without adhering so strictly as to loose the free-wheeling fun of the message. A highly desirable English edition of this ancient work.

Or at least, put it in a very positive way, that's what the smile on my face meant when I finished reading this beautiful piece written by Ovid during the first century A.D.; perhaps the "step by step" seduction handbook then and now, is even more remarkable by the fact that its wisdom applies the same in today's "complex" world.

The Art of Love or "Ars Amatoria" is no doubt the result of the life of a very well traveled and educated man, for he is one of those few who understands the ways (and mistery) of the feminine soul... by the same token, Ovid gives us both sides of the coin in this Roman's elegy: the ways of the male spirit in order to seduce women, and the step by step guide for women to seduce and keep men... in other words, there's nothing new under the sun, BUT, the ways we perceive and apply knowledge...

I read the Duane Humphries translation. His preface is superbly written, so one would hope that his translation possesses similar flair. Since I don't read Latin, I cannot attest to his accuracy.

He observes in his preface the commonalities between Ovid's scene and that of our contemporary world. You will get a strong sense of a society that was very similar to that of our own.

Jim Capaldi was over inspired when wrote in the last strophe of his most emblematic theme: "Cause love is the high, high you can reach."

For all those people who have had the chance, the lucky and the fortune to get their couple and for the rest of them who never had the chance to construct a life's project with that special being, this text presents some clever observations about how the love must be cultivated, far from being imposed or begged.

The love, its implications, consequences and daily cares demand a virtue far beyond the patience is like a smart device of action and reaction that requires a wise flexibility, tolerance and profound knowledge of the human soul; "to think about us before myself" is a minuscule part of a complex web of feelings and personal livings of every member of the couple.

Don't let this classic book pass in front of you and acquire it as soon as you can.

It was not waht I expected but it is detailed enough to understand the content. I appreciate it considering when was was written.

This is one of the best books that i have read on "love".Intellectual eroticism always gives a sophisticated veneer to less lofty primordial sexual impulses.Throws new light on the Roman decadence and hedonistic society.So if you want to take a journey and delve into the very essense of Ovid's eroticism and human sexuality or just learn to show some 'love' read this book.

This was a gift and they loved it. It was listed on their Amazon wish list.

THANK YOU, IT WAS THE RIGHT BOOK THAT I NEEDED FOR CLASS, CHEAPER THAN B&N AND CAME ON TIME.