Customer Reviews

The Metamorphoses of Ovid

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On Ovid: This is one of the best poems ever written. Period. I'm a big mythology buff and many of the Greek and Roman myth versions we know today come from this work. It also tells a compelling story. Shakespeare thought it was great, enough said.

On Mandelbaum: I've read about 4 different translations of this work and Mr. Mandelbaum's is my favorite. He remains precise without being choppy. He keeps it poetic, which I like. There is a fine line translators must walk, being true to the original text while making the english understandable and keeping the imagery, flow, music and intent intact. This version does all of those.

For any one interested in truly understanding the development of literature, no book except the Bible, has had more influence. The profoundly entertaining tales of Adonis, Midas, Apollo, Icarus, and many others come to life in this illustrious translation. At first, I was a little indifferent and disinterested in the topic; but I thought of all of those references to Ovid in Dante, Chaucer, and Shakespeare and figured go ahead read it. Well, it was the best decision in long time for me. Before I had finished reading half of the tales, I opened creative doors and answered literary questions that I had never knew existed. If you are interested in the classics of Homer, Virgil and many others, I highly recommend this translation!!

A marvelous translation of the Metamorphoses, difficult to put down, very poetic and evocative, leading one into one's own personal associations to the myths while being true to Ovid. I recommend reading it aloud....

Mandelbaum's translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses is the best I have seen so far. It is a very accurate and original rendition of the poem, while also being very readable. This is my most highly recommended edition of Ovid's Metamorphoses because of its highly readable, enjoyable verse translation. Mandelbaum, who won the National Book Reward for his classic verse translation of Virgil's Aeneid, displays his unmatched skill and heart at translating Latin classics in this edition of Ovid's poem.

My only complaint about this book is that the book does not have any footnotes or table of contents whatsoever. The book has to be navigated by looking at the top margins.

I personally do not recommend the Oxford and Penguin editions of this book, as they are not as close to the original Latin, and the rhetorical quality is also not as good. Focus Classical Library's edition of
Ovid's Metamorphoses is very highly annotated with indispendable footnotes, outlines, headings, and index, but unfortunately its translation complicated is not as readable as Mandelbaum's.

For serious mythology learners who want an accurate, original rendition of the poem, I would recommend getting both this book and Mandelbaum's translation. Because of the Focus Classical Library edition's indispensable annotations and more literal translation (which includes all of the proper names Ovid uses in his original poem) and outline, serious readers might want to also buy that one in addition to the Mandelbaum translation.

Overall, this is THE edition of Ovid's Metamorphoses that you should get, whether you are a new reader or longtime classicist. This vivid, accurate, readable, page-turning book is truly a modern masterpiece.

Ovid is something that people interested in Shakespeare and mythology and Western culture in general ought to read, and Mandelbaum's translation will make you glad while you read it.

Ovid's poem begins with a creation out of chaos and into the golden age, traces the famous careers of Orpheus, Hercules, and Achilles, and culminates with the ascension of Augustus Caesar. Along the way, his tales of young lust, treachery, and enough shape-changes to keep George Lucas in business for decades will pull you into a world in which men contend with gods (and usually, but not always, lose), true love can forestall even death (or make death kidnap a goddess's daughter), and Morpheus is not a gun-toting cyber-revolutionary but a servant of Sleep and a master of imitation.

Mandelbaum's translation balances beauty of language and flow of story to make this classic compilation of Roman myths a page-turner. A beginner might want to acquire an edition with footnotes, but a reader with sufficient background or the resources to research references would do well to acquire this translation of this wonderful text.

I'm sorry I must disagree with all other reviewers on this edition. First of all let me quickly say I'm not really rating Ovid, but this specific translation. Don't be fooled by the book cover, which is a rather handsome one. This edition is missing something! The translation seems all right, at times it rhymes, but I'm no judge of that for I've never read Ovid in it's original Latin text (I can't read Latin!). Anyway, the edition lacks any annotation. Now some people may find that to be of no consequence but I think it quite important. This is one of the reasons I value Fagles' Iliad and Odyssey. They are both well annotated and both have interesting introductory essays.

Let me point out why annotation is important. As I was reading Mandelbaum's edition (quite enjoying it), I reached the point where Apollo falls in love with Daphne. I got somewhat confused because then it seemed another character named Phoebus comes in. So it seems we have three characters. And I suddenly realized that in fact Phoebus and Apollo are the same god, Phoebus is just an epithet for Apollo. I only found this out by looking up the notes in the Fagles edition (which by the way also has a pronunciation guide). And so without any annotation, a reader (such as me) who has recently started to read the ancient classics would be clueless, for Ovid assumes that his audience knows what he is writing about-since after all these are Gods know by the Romans. And this where a good editor would bridge the gap (between the modern reader and the ancient writer).

Many say that it is the reader's job to look up things he does not understand. But in a book like this one, where hundreds of gods are floating about, this task would be monumental. Take for example the case of Phoebus and Apollo. Some readers may never have noticed that in fact Phoebus and Apollo have to be the same god. Mandelbaum and all the other learned reviewers may already have knowledge of the Roman mythology but not me. I wish to be slowly eased into Ovid's world but Mandelbaum drowns me. He has little care for readers like me.

Lovely cover, pleasant font type, fabulous translation, plenty of space in the margins.

Few will criticize the translation. Some readers may complain about Mandelbaum's lack of footnotes and introductory essay. Mandelbaum doesn't provide footnotes; he only gives what Ovid gives. If there were notes, the volume would be too bulky. It's already 550+ pages, and the translator does offer closing remarks (much more tasteful and appropriate than an introductory essay). I think the space in the margins is more important than editor's/translator's footnotes; that way, if a question arises, the reader can do his own research and annotate his copy beside the text for himself.

Sumptuous, gorgeous. From the creation of the world to the birth of Julius Caesar. If only the Bible was written as well or made as much sense. And how thrilling to discover Shakespeare stealing wholesale from it: eg. Titania's "Nine men's morris" comes from Medea. One of the great reading experiences of a lifetime. And this translation sings and stuns and entertains. Buy it. And give it to all your friends. If you love them and fear for their souls.

Fascinating. Beautifully written. Thought provoking.

I bought this book for a class and I have enjoyed it. A must read!