{"product_id":"the-thebaid-publius-papinius-statius-9780801886362","title":"The Thebaid: Seven Against Thebes","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classical epic of fratricide and war, the \u003ci\u003eThebaid\u003c\/i\u003e retells the legendary conflict between the sons of Oedipus--Polynices and Eteocles--for control of the city of Thebes. The Latin poet Statius reworks a familiar story from Greek myth, dramatized long before by Aeschylus in his tragedy \u003ci\u003eSeven against Thebes\u003c\/i\u003e. Statius chose his subject well: the Rome of his day, ruled by the emperor Domitian, was not too distant from the civil wars that had threatened the survival of the empire. Published in 92 A.D., the \u003ci\u003eThebaid\u003c\/i\u003e was an immediate success, and its fame grew in succeeding centuries. It reached its peak of popularity in the later Middle Ages and Renaissance, influencing Dante, Chaucer, and perhaps Shakespeare. In recent times, however, it has received perhaps less attention than it deserves, in large part because there has been no accessible, dynamic translation of the work into English.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCharles Stanley Ross offers a compelling version of the \u003ci\u003eThebaid\u003c\/i\u003e rendered into forceful, modern English. Casting Statius's Latin hexameter into a lively iambic pentameter more natural to the modern ear, Ross frees the work from the archaic formality that has marred previous translations. His translation reinvigorates the \u003ci\u003eThebaid\u003c\/i\u003e as a whole: its meditative first half and its violent second half; its intimate portrayal of defeat and retribution, and the need to seek justice at any cost. In a wide-ranging introduction, Ross provides an overview of the poem: its composition, reception and legacy; its major themes and literary influences; and its place in Statius' life. And in a helpful series of notes, he offers background information on the major characters and incidents.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Publius Papinius Statius\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0801886368\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780801886362\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Johns Hopkins University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/01\/2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 432\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.27lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.11h x 5.89w x 1.13d","brand":"Publius Papinius Statius","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47757843726591,"sku":"9780801886362","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_784f45f6-03d9-4100-8b30-93b822aefd72.jpg?v=1765510710","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-thebaid-publius-papinius-statius-9780801886362","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}