Customer Reviews

Horace Odes I: Carpe Diem (Bk.1)

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This is an excellent place for someone who knows some Latin, but isn't an advanced student of the language, to start Horace (it worked for me, anyway). There's a brief,tantalising introduction to the poet's life and times, well-printed Latin texts and accurate but fluid English translations that leave just enough unsaid to puzzle the reader into thinking further (as Horace does himself in the Latin). The commentaries are well-written, accessible to all, and don't skip the difficulties. There are good notes on the metres, though putting them at the end of the book is a pity - too much flitting backwards and forwards is needed, and a non-latinist who is also not a musician might need a bit more explanation of how to apply them. The other commentaries (e.g. Nisbet and Hubbard) are cited and put into context where they're useful. The Odes, explained like this, are a revelation, and you may find yourself (as I did) involuntarily and painlessly memorising phrases or even whole verses of the Latin while reading through. Perhaps you'll also be stimulated to try out your own English verse translations of some of the poems. Very occasionally West has a rather eccentric interpretation of a word or image, but he always flags his own unorthodoxy, and in general he translates and explains clearly and modestly - you can disagree with him when you need to, without feeling patronised or let down. Above all, West transmits his strong affection for the very likeable Horace, whose tone he describes well, and often captures - a tone that moves quickly from light, worldy-wise irony to a serious view of fame, heroism, love, friendship and death, and back again to caustic wit, like clouds flitting quickly across a windy summer sky. The poems make you want to go and live in Ancient Rome - or rather, in the campagna outside it. These are some of the finest and most perfect poems ever written. So get a good Lewis and Short dictionary (that's the only important bit missing from the book) and "Carpe diem" - pluck the day.

According to Mr. West, Horace and a slave are idling away an afternoon. The setting is a friend's villa on the Bay of Naples. It's late winter. They are drinking wine and talking about the future.

Bay of Naples? Winter? Slave? How can he possibly know that?

Read Mr. West's close reading and analysis to learn more, much more.