Civil War (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Lucan (Author), Susan H. Braund (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0192839497 | ISBN-13: 978-0192839497 | Publication Date: February 24, 2000

Lucan's epic poem on the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of Virgil and Ovid in the first rank of Latin epic. This newly annotated, free verse translation conveys the full force of Lucan's writing and his grimly realistic view of the subject. The work is a powerful condemnation of civil war, emphasizing the stark, dark horror of the catastrophies which the Roman state inflicted upon itself. Both the introduction and glossary set the scene for readers unfamiliar with Lucan and explore his relationship with earlier writers of Latin epic, and his interest in the sensational.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The translation combines fidelity to the Latin with a good sense of what makes readable English. The introduction well raises many issues about the poem."--Keith N. Gauneberl, Hobart and William Smith Colleges--CHECK NAME!!

"Excellent notes, sensible introduction."--L. Cahoon, Gettysburg College

"Probably the best English translation in print."--Martin Helzle, Case Western Reserve University

"I like this translation. The introduction and notes by Braund are excellent."--Carole Shaffer-Koros, Kean College

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192839497
• ISBN-13: 978-0192839497
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another version of Lucan, July 21, 2000

By 

Caius Fabius "caiusfabius" (Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Civil War (The World's Classics) (Paperback)

If I had known it was another translation of Lucan, I would not have ordered it, BUT I would have made a mistake. This work has a better translation for the modern reader, and lots of good supporting information. Some of the comparisons I made with other versions make me wish I had this ten years ago. The notes are worth the price of the book!

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Gore, War, and Monumental Verse", January 23, 2002

By 

Johannes Platonicus (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Civil War (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Lucan, the author of the full-throated but incomplete epic the "Civil War", certainly deserves a spot next to the great Latin poets Ovid, Horace, and Virgil, whose epic works mark the pinnacle eloquence and intelligence of Latin verse. The epic was written during the reign of Nero in the first century AD, and it is characterized by its vehement condemnation of civil war and imperialistic sentiments--this possibly caused Lucan's later fall out of Nero's favor. The primary characters in the epic are Julius Caesar, who is portrayed as a destructive warmonger, and Pompey (Magnus), who is described as ambitious and over his prime. The vivid descriptions of the wars in this work are exciting and at the same time sobering since Lucan's narrative never fails to reveal those attributes of civil war which invoke the most disturbing of feelings. For all this, Lucan's "Civil War" is recommended, and also because the Oxford World Classics always present reliable translations, and this particular edition retains Lucan's charming and long-winded verse that courses so smoothly through the hearts and minds reader's who are fortunate enough to come into contact with it.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated Historical Epic, December 18, 2007

By 

Theodore J. Freeman "sounio" (Westtown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Civil War (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

An underrated work of the Silver Age. There are some excellent epsiodes that could stand on their own as mini-epics: the suicides of Vulteius and comrades, Appius 'rape' of the Pythia, Caesar's journey by sea, Scaeva's aristeia, Erictho's necromancy, and Cato's journey through Africa to name just a few. The historical insights into the lives of Caesar, Pompey, and Cato are also especially enlightening. Absolutely worth a first and second look!