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Title: Ovid: Metamorphoses Book XIII by Ovid, Neil Hopkinson, P. E. Easterling, Philip Hardie, Richard Hunter, E. J. Kenney ISBN: 0-521-55620-1 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Pub. Date: 02 November, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.32 (19 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: The Translation Makes the Difference
Comment: If I got one thing from reading this book, was that for the first time ever I realised how much difference a translation makes. I feel this is more a review of the translation rather than Ovid's work. This book, a linking of all the greek and roman myths of importance, is probably great if you're a mytho-phile, it is a great reference, also wonderful is Ovid's use of storytelling, and his under running current of metamorphosis that he uses to transfer from one tale to another. In some passages Ovid shines, the creation, the tales of the greek scholar (a precursor to militant vegans) are prime examples. When Ovid is good, he's brilliant, but when he's bad, it can be painful reading...or so I thought, now I'm not so sure. I was reading Gregory's translation, which I didn't know at the time is a bit dumbed down...I picked up another version (I don't remember the translator) just to compare to the one I had been reading. The same passages which had seemed deadly dull before, sprung to life, with beautiful eloquent verse. Gregory's translation for some reason seemed to be shooting for the lowest common denominator. And the difference between the two was amazing, it was like comparing a real book to the cliff notes. The one thing that I did enjoy about Horace's version was his subdivision of books, with the title of the myth being told, which in a continuous narrative can be hard to spot. However, these "titles" probably ultimately, destroy the gradual metamorphoses from one myth to the next, which I have to admit are very cleverly done. So I say, don't discount Ovid completely, but maybe just this translation.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fascinating tales of murder, mayhem and wrathful gods
Comment: I really don't know about how faithful this was to the original, because I don't speak Latin. I read this book solely because I like mythology.
This book is very good reading with tales of murders, rapes, betrayals, honour, battles, incest and you name it! If it was made into a movie it probably would be NC-17!
I must warn you that the author has a habit of referring to gods and goddesses by multiple names. For example one god will be referred to by his name, son of x, grandson of y,etc. There are also tons of characters that are introduced.
It might help if you take some notes while reading this book, but it is well worth the read if you like mythology.
Rating: 5
Summary: Perfect hassle-free reading
Comment: There is a review on the back cover of the book, from British Book News. It says " a book every literate person ought to own", I couldn't agree more.
Several reviews here critisize Melville's translation for not preserving the Ovid's poetry. Well, i whole-hartedly couldn't care less about Ovid's poety. I'm much more interested in the stories, and I found this translation to be READABLE! Something lacking in many others. This is a translation that you can sit down with and read. You don't need a dictionary and you don't have to work to decifer the meaning of each line.
Metamorphoses is important to anyone who desires to learn about mythology. It collects all the stories that you know, and some you don't all together. It's a wonderful referance for students, not to mention entertaining. The explanitory notes are excellent and the index is useful.
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Title: The Aeneid by Virgil, Robert Fitzgerald ISBN: 0679729526 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 16 June, 1990 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: Theogony, Works and Days by Hesiod, M. L. West ISBN: 0192839411 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 1999 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: The Aeneid of Virgil by Allen Mandelbaum, Virgil, Allen Mandlebaum ISBN: 0553210416 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 September, 1981 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics) by Apollodorus, Robin Hard ISBN: 0192839241 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: January, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Erotic Poems: The Amores, the Art of Love, Cures for Love, on Facial Treatment for Ladies (Penguin Classics) by Ovid, Peter Green ISBN: 0140443606 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: February, 1983 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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