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Summary: An awful translation.
Review: "Arma virumque cano"--those simple words begin Vergil's great epic. How does Robert Fitzgerald muddle those up so much in a jumble of words that's neither poetic nor faithful? It's disgusting! You're better off reading a prose translation. At least there are no pretensions to poetry. Better yet, choose John Dryden's translation, from the late 17th century. It's available in the Penguin Classics. Here are his opening lines: "Arms and the man I sing, who forced by fate/And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate"--now THAT'S poetry, man!
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Summary: True beauty in written form
Review: "Of arms I sing and of the man who first From Trojan shores beneath the ban of fate..."I first read this book when I was 14 and can still vividly recall the first book of this work of art verbatim. Arguably, the most poignant writer of his era, Virgil wrote with a grace and style rarely ever read. My advice: Purchase this book. A fine bottle of cognac, set aside an evening without the family and let this book take you on an unforgettable journey into what it is to be human.
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Summary: Aeneas' Great Adventure to the Promise Land!
Review: Aeneis by Virgil is a classic of its time. I am required to read this book by my English teacher, but I would not put it down if he told me I didn't have to. This book gives a mythological account of the trials of Aeneas and the Trojan refugees after exiled from their homeland by the Greeks. Jupiter (the king of the gods) would have Aeneis found a colony that would eventually become an empire in Italy, while Juno (the queen of the gods) tries to delay Aenies' fate for as long as posible. Aeneis goes through many trials in this epic and if you enjoy history with a twist of fantasy and mythology then you will be hooked the moment you start into this book.
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Summary: imagine that he almost burned it
Review: Although Virgil spent years writing the Aeneid, by his death, he felt that it was imperfect and asked that it be burned. Luckily for all concerned, his request was denied or we'd never have this epic. If you are new to Greek and Roman epics, I'd recommend starting with the Iliad and the Odyssey first. Not only will most novices find them more readable (especially the Odyssey), any reader will pick up important background information that will help immeasurably in following the Aeneid. Although I'm a huge fan of the Aeneid and have read many of the books in the original Latin, I'd suggest to most readers just to read books 1,2,4 and 6 unless you are really drawn in. It's not that the other books are not great (they are), it's just that unless you are a specialist, you won't want to read all about the battles and extra stuff -- book 4 is the love story of Dido and Aeneus and for many is the highlight of the poem. Book 6 is the trip to to the underworld which is so important to later writers and poets like Dante, TS Eliot, etc.... The fall of Troy is contained in books 1 and 2. I enjoy Fitzgerald's translation, but as an amateur Latinist, I prefer Allan Mandelbaum's translation with Moser's illustrations. When I was translating from the Latin, only Mandelbaum was so close to the original that he could help a student. I think Mandelbaum is a genius for rendering the poem so close to the original. It's unfair to call him wooden -- Virgil wrote the whole thing in Dacytlic hexameter which is hardly wooden in Latin, although it can be repetitive at times. Not to worry -- he used a lot of spondaic substititions (altering a long, short short with a long, long) to vary the meter. So, if you just want a taste, read books 1,2,4 and 6 and if you love it, by all means read the whole epic.
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Summary: An Original Translation
Review: As I read some of the more scathing reviews of Fitzgerald's translation of the Aenied, I felt compelled to come to his defense. No translation is capable of reproducing the effect intended by the author. It is impossible to translate the meter and sublties to which Latin lends itself. Something is always lost. Vergil's mastery of the Latin language is impossible to extract from any translation. Fitzgerald does as admirable a job as any translator I have seen of maintaining an epic and poetic "sense" to the work. It is by no means a literal translation, and he does take many liberties in his interpretation of the text, but perhaps this was his objective in creating this work. Every translator inherently applies his or her own biases, his own culture, and his own "sense" to the original work. In this way, something new is produced every time a work is translated into another language. As I read Fitzgerald's translation I hold in mind that there are things Vergil intended to be understood that are perhaps lost, but I also recognize the art of the translator and his own understanding and influence on the work.
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Summary: As beautiful as writing gets
Review: Fitzgerald's translation of the Aeneid is absolutely stunning--beautiful, deeply moving--this is the Aeneid to read. As re: the Aeneid itself, it's fun comparing it to Fitzgerald's Iliad and Odyssey--the latter are serious matters of myth and oral tradition transcribed into written text, whereas the Aeneid is something of a classical potboiler, commissioned to look like Homer's work while aggrandizing certain aspects of Roman history--essentially, Virgil was trying to write a Homeric-flavored bestseller for his emperor. It shows beautifully in this translation--without detracting from the majesty of this epic or the beauty of Virgil's poetry, I think Fitzgerald conveys a lighter, faster-moving feel in this translation than in his treatment of Homer. A lot of the reviews I've read here have praised the beauty of this book--but I'd like to add that along with all that, the Aeneid is also a fun, fast read. There's a reason this story has survived two thousand years... and is still in print! Jump in and read it--you don't need to be an expert to enjoy it, as long as you have a basic acquaintance with the tale of Troy and the Greek pantheon.
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Summary: My favorite translator of the classics
Review: Fitzgerld is an exceptional poet/translator. His translations always have a sense of motion to them. The character are vital and passionate in this transtlation. The story is of Aeneas and his quest to find a home for the survivor of Troy. The story is of mythic travels and temptation of Aeneas as he travels to Italy (Odyessey like.) Then the conquest of Italy(like the Illiad). This poem is a mixture of the Illiad and Odessey, a story of a warrior/traveler. Fitzgerld caputres this duelity in his translations. If you don't believe that a translator can make a difference then read this version and compare to others.
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Summary: Regarding Mr. Krane
Review: For those erudite readers writing reviews to respond to Ronald Krane's earlier review, you might want to branch out with the romans and read a little Seneca and Petronius, who both explore this strange beast, with which you are obviously not familiar, known as "satire." (In other words, methinks Mr. Krane may not be altogether serious.)
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Summary: To Clarify
Review: Hello, this is the ghost of the Roman poet, Virgil here to clear up a few things. Do not inquire why I am typing in English, it is a greater mystery why a ghost is so concerned with internet reviews, that he returns from Elysium to right a few wrongs. First, I lived over 2000 years ago, rhyming didn't exist back then. And second, I feel as though I have a far stronger connection with my muse, Calliope, than this "Bolton" character. Now, if you will excuse me, I hear Dis and Proserpine beckoning me back to the sheer bliss of Elysium. P.S. No, I never met "Maximus"
Rating:
Summary: not that bad
Review: Hi this review is largely inspired by the review by ronald kane, and partly in response to a review by a nineth grade prodigy following ronald's review. The book itself is grand, however i must agree that the rhyming (or lack there of) distracted me greatly. Jewel is a wonderful poet, so is michael bolton, i think that Virgil might (let me stress the word might here) have fashioned many of his stanzas on bolton's remake of "when a man loves a woman" (ie not always rhyming but beautiful nonetheless.) I feel that perhaps many poeple (namely pedantic nineth graders) will read this text and not truly grasp the depths of Virgil's musical backround and/or influences-- take more time with your next review little fellow... the book is not that bad.
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