The Epigrams Of Martial: Race Accompanied By One Or More Years Translations, From The Works Of English Poets, And Various Other Sources (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9789354302251)

Martial's epigrams cut fast and close. Wit bites like winter chill. This Latin poetry collection gathers the acid, aphoristic flash of a classical epigrams anthology, presenting Martial's short, often savage observations in accessible English verse translations drawn from the works of English poets and various other sources. Few lines stay still; each epigram is crafted to strike, amuse and provoke; these are wit and satire poems that range from playful parody and ribald humour to ironies of love, patronage and city life. The result is both entertainment and sharp social portraiture of first century Rome: brisk, worldly, occasionally shocking, and always memorable. As a Martial epigrams translation for modern readers, the selection balances readability with the bite prized by collectors of classical literature. Readers encounter a broad register of tones, from frank street talk and sly literary parody to neat encomium and wry domestic observation. The variety of English verse translations offered here invites straight reading, close study, and return visits to passages that reward both casual enjoyment and scholarly curiosity. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. The book's significance is plain: Martial shaped the epigram as a literary form, and his pithy verses remain central to classical literature studies and to the lineage of English verse translations that followed. Students of classics will find a compact companion for classroom and private reading alike; casual readers will discover sharp comic shocks and sly social commentary in every short piece. Equally suited as a poetry enthusiasts gift or as a cultured addition to a collector's shelf, this collection is more than a reprint of public-domain verse - it is a restored taste of ancient Roman humour and literary parody themes, rendered for contemporary enjoyment.

Author: Unknown
ISBN-10: 9354302254
ISBN-13: 9789354302251
Publisher: Alpha Edition
Language: English
Published: 12/02/2020
Pages: 686
Format: Paperback
Weight: 2.18lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.51d