The Satires (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Juvenal (Author), Niall Rudd (Translator), William Barr (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008 | Series: Oxford World's Classics

Commonly considered the greatest of Roman satirical poets, Juvenal is the author of sixteen satires of Roman society, notable for their pessimism and ironic humor. In this new translation of the Satires, Professor Rudd combines textual accuracy with colorful poetry, vividly conveying Juvenal's gift for evoking a wealth of imagery with a few economical phrases.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`scholarly and disciplined' Sunday Telegraph

'The translation itself goes a long way towards catching J.'s mixture of rhetoric and wit. It is lively and taut ... translation is excellent, not only the best available in English but also good to read, no bad thing as most of its readers will be Latinless.' F. Jones, University of Liverpool, The Classical Review, Vol. XLII, 1992

About the Author

Niall Rudd is a Professor Emeritus of Latin at the University of Bristol. William Barr is formerly Senior Lecturer in Latin at the University of Liverpool.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199540667
• ISBN-13: 978-0199540662
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Juvenal's "The Satires" September 4, 2012

By B. A. Dilger

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Latin literature is well worth reading in English translations. It is a skill and art when the translator also has to deal with meter and rhythm in Roman poetry. Niall Rudd has done that in this updated version of a Roman classic (c. 2000 A.D.). Juvenal (~112-130 A.D.) wrote biting, sardonic poems against life in the Roman Empire of his day. Having lived under the terrible Emperor Domitian and some better ones, Juvenal experienced all too well what having an unstable political system the Empire had become. His Satires mock everything from excessive wealth to female liberation. A must read not only for the poetic but one man's view of the deteriorization of civil society under a capricious rule.

4.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly Readable March 23, 2012

By Ryan C. Holiday VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have trouble staying interested in most plays or poems so I thought this was going to be difficult to read, but it was not (tip: read the Wikipedia summary for each Satire first, then read it in the book). Peter Green (Penguin) is my favorite translator of classics so definitely read his version. His line "Don't you want to cram whole notebooks with scribbled invective" felt very relatable to what's going on in my own life right now. Juvenal, who is known mostly for his sexual innuendo and anger, felt surprisingly Stoic to me. In fact, in one Satire he has what I feel is the best explanation of the difference between Stoics, Cynics and Epicureans-the Stoics and the Cynics have just a shirt between them. (See if you can figure out what he means.)