Heroides (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Ovid (Author), Harold Isbell (Editor, Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: October 2, 1990

In the twenty-one poems of the "Heroides", Ovid gave voice to the heroines and heroes of epic and myth. These deeply moving literary epistles reveal the happiness and torment of love, as the writers tell of their pain at separation, forgiveness of infidelity or anger at betrayal. The faithful Penelope wonders at the suspiciously long absence of Ulysses, while Dido bitterly reproaches Aeneas for too eagerly leaving her bed to follow his destiny, and Sappho the only historical figure portrayed here describes her passion for the cruelly rejecting Phaon. In the poetic letters between Paris and Helen the lovers seem oblivious to the tragedy prophesied for them, while in another exchange the youthful Leander asserts his foolhardy eagerness to risk his life to be with his beloved Hero.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin

About the Author

Publius Ovidius Naso was born in 43 BC at Sumo in Central Italy. He was expelled from Rome by the emperor Augustus in AD 8 for some unknown offence. He published poetry throughout his life. Harold Isbell is a renowned translator.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (October 2, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140423559
• ISBN-13: 978-0140423556
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mythology becomes real., April 17, 2005

By 

Jan Dierckx (Belgium, Turnhout) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heroides (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Publius Ovidius Naso was born in 43 B.C. and died in 18 A.D.
Emperor Augustus banished him - for unknown reasons - to Tomi ( a barren place near the coast of the Black Sea ). A few scholars believe that this was a literary hoax created by Ovidius himself.
With 'Heroides' ( Legendary Women ) Ovidius goes against the tradition where only men were allowed to complain in literary fiction about their ill fortune and human cruelty.
These women are all characters from the greek mythology like Briseis (Trojan war), Hermione the daughter of Helen and even Sappho as heroine in the legend where she commits suicide by jumping from a cliff into the sea.

Ovidius turned these women from rather abstract mythological characters into 'real' persons who could be recognized as such by the audience or the readers of Ovidius' work

7 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very interesting book, but....., August 18, 2001

By 

SEBASTIANVS "libra64" (TOKYO Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heroides (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

I recommend this interesting book for everyone who is intersted in the "classical Greek & Roman world". However, I prefer to read it in the original Latin texts. And if you don't read the ancient Latin language well, I suggest you to read a volume(no.225) of the Loeb Classical Library.