The Love Poems (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Ovid (Author), A. D. Melville (Translator), E. J. Kenney (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0192836331 | ISBN-13: 978-0192836335 | Publication Date: January 28, 1999

Ovid's love-poetry was typically original and innovative. His witty analysis in the Amores (Loves) of the elegiac relationship develops with relentless irony its essential paradox - love as simultaneously fulfilling and destructive - to its logical conclusion: definitive disestablishment of the poet-lover's role as presented by Gallus, Tibullus, and Propertius. In its place he went on to offer in the Ars Amatoria (Art of Love) and Remedia Amoris (Cures for Love) an equally brilliant presentation of an alternative and more realistic conception of love as a game at which both sexes can play without getting hurt - providing they stick to Ovid's rules. Under the surface of Ovid's wit there runs an undercurrent of serious meaning: the theme of the poet's complete control of his medium and his art and a proud consciousness of his achievements. His claim to be 'the Virgil of elegy' is arrestingly justified in these extraordinarily accomplished poems. Alan Melville's accomplished translations match the sophisticated elegance of Ovid's Latin. Their witty modern idiom is highly entertaining.In this volume he has included the brilliant version of the Art of Love by Moore, published more than fifty years ago and still unequalled; the small revisions he has made will enhance the reader's admiration for Moore's achievement.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Melville has worked a miracle. It is difficult to imagine that there will ever be an English version so faithful to the Latin, and written in such sound and engaging verse.' The Times.

'Melville has worked a miracle ... It is difficult to imagine that there will ever be an English version so faithful to the Latin, and written in such sound and engaging verse.' David West, The Times

'a new, faithful yet engaging translation ... Ovid was a brilliant, innovative, elegant, witty and ironic poet, who has entertained readers for thousands of years and this new version will give pleasure to many more.' Day by Day

A

Language Notes

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192836331
• ISBN-13: 978-0192836335
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,487,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Look elsewhere, February 1, 2009

By 

Andrew Spencer "Panoptes" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Love Poems (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Melville's translation fails for one specific reason: the Latin text is not translated faithfully, and he sacrifices an accurate representation for producing rhyming English verse. I should remind potential readers that Latin poets did not produce rhyming poetry, and the tendency for English-speaking scholars to do this is a rather out-dated, 19th century (and earlier) practice. Look to Peter Green's Penguin translation, which is a much better translation of these excellent poems.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Poetry, Prudish Editor, November 13, 2007

By 

Mary - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Love Poems (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

The poetry here is racy, beautiful, funny, and provocative. The translations are well done (who am I to judge?), preserving the original intent and meaning, but the notes tend a little on the prudish side. While the notes are invaluable for a serious student (me), and especially since some translations of Ovid's Amores have no notes, this editor leaves out some pertinent information about Caesar Augustus, and family, who ruled at the time of publication, and whom Ovid addresses occasionally in his works. Also, the translator admittedly prefers the Metamorphoses, seemingly because it is gentler and more mature, so I am left wondering whether this colored his translation of the Amores--it's racy, but is it as racy as the original?

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ovid everyday, October 31, 2008

By 

Ignacio Nava "IN THIN ARRAY" (california) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Poems (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature) (Paperback)

I see it as this: everyone should have some writers or books to constantly go back to, and re-read as time goes on, this Dryden translation of Ovid is such a masterpiece that I go back to it as much as I can.