The Aeneid by Virgil
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Book Reviews of The Aeneid
Book Review: Love the Voice
Summary: 5 Stars
Simon Callow is a wonderful narrator, and his booming, mellifluous voice is remarkably suited to this poem. Also, this is unabridged, which is wonderful, if rare. This recording inspired me to go out and buy the unabridged Odyssey and the (regrettably) abridged Iliad, read by Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi respectively. I wish recordings of the classics were available, unabridged, and read by any of these three masters.Book Review: Excellent Rendition of a Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think that anyone could ask for a better presentation of Virgil's classic. Fagles's translation is scintillating. When I listen to a work like this I generally simultaneously read or consult a number of translations, and Fagles definitely has created a wondrous and exceptional work in English. Simon Callow's rendition is simultaneously exhilarating and haunting. Highly recommended.Book Review: powerful
Summary: 5 Stars
Simon Callow is excellent; articulate, clear, powerful! I leave the lit. crit. to others, this presentation was
a living illustration of the book. I would highly recommend it as an emetic for corporate media baby food.
Book Review: A classic of Western literature that is often a fun read (or listen)
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a review of the CD audio book version of Robert Fagles' translation of Virgil's Aeneid.
Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once quipped, "My wife is a lovely woman, but she can never remember which came first: the Greeks or the Romans." The Greeks "came first" in two senses. Their civilization produced great works of literature, philosophy and art when Rome was still a primitive village, and although the Romans later conquered the Greek world their cultural achievements never quite matched those of Greece, and they knew it.
The Aeneid is an epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan who flees his city as it is being sacked by the Greeks. (The story of the Trojan Horse is actually not in the Iliad, but there is a moving account of it in the Aeneid.) Aeneas wanders for many years and eventually comes to Italy and founds what becomes Roman civilization. Aeneas is thus conquered by the Greeks, but founds the civilization that will conquer them. And this poem about Aeneas is meant to rival the Iliad (with its accounts of battles) and the Odyssey (with its accounts of the wanderings of its hero on his way home).
The Aeneid is also a commentary on the politics of the era in which it was composed. Virgil lived in the time when the Roman Republic had come to an end and Octavian had succeeded Caesar as emperor. Aeneas is the supposed founder of the Roman royal line, so in honoring him Virgil is honoring his patron. And Octavian came to power only after a period of warfare (just like Aeneas). Further parallels are provided by the relationship between Aeneas and Dido, Queen of Carthage. Aeneas and Dido fall in love, and he is tempted to stay with her. But he remembers his sacred duty to found a new empire in Italy, so he leaves her behind. (I don't want to spoil the story for you, but what happens with Dido after Aeneas leaves her is one of the most famous parts of the Aeneid.) Carthage was a city that fought two wars with Rome. (Remember Hannibal leading the elephants over the alps? That was the Carthaginians.) So Aeneas's psychological victory over the temptations of Carthage foreshadows the later conflict between the empires. Furthermore, Octavian's rule was secure only after he defeated Mark Anthony. Mark Anthony allowed himself to be seduced by a foreign queen (Cleopatra in this case). So in showing Aeneas's resolve against the temptations of a foreign queen, Virgil is condemning Octavian's opponent.
The Aeneid is considered one of the greatest works (perhaps THE greatest) of Latin literature. It was so highly esteemed that it was sometimes used as a book of divination: you opened it up to a random page and stuck your finger on a line, which was your "fortune." (I tried it: apparently I am going to be shot dead with an arrow by a goddess.)
As a story, I find the Aeneid good but uneven. Parts of it are quite gripping. In addition to some of the events I've mentioned, the account of Aeneid's visit to the underworld, and the poetically appropriate punishments that the vicious receive, is engaging. We can see why Dante was so inspired by it that, in the Divine Comedy, he makes Virgil be his guide through Hell. At his worst, though, Virgil can be a bit bombastic. This isn't helped by the actor who reads the text for this audio book. His delivery reminds one of a stodgy British professor delivering a commencement address.
The CD case includes a booklet with the introduction to Fagles' translation by classicist Bernard Knox. This is very helpful, situating Virgil in his time, summarizing the poem (I found this useful as a review after having listened to the whole thing), and offering some personal reflections on the meaning Virgil has for him.
In the final analysis, the Aeneid is very good, but not as great as the Iliad or the Odyssey. I guess the Greeks do still "come first."
Book Review: Translation and reading great, pity the original isn't
Summary: 4 Stars
This is by far the best translation of The Aeneid I have found. And the reading suits the translation and Virgil's intentions. But the original Latin work is over-ornamented, derivative, very violent (likely the highest body count of any ancient epic), and pure propaganda for Augustus. The main character is totally without personality. It was written for the entertainment of educated pampered Romans reveling in their triumph over the rest of the world. That being said, this is a classic of Western Literature and has been widely praised for centuries. It (literally) speaks volumes about the Romans of this period! One is uneducated unless he or she knows this work and this audio version is the most painless way to approach it. Unfortunately, Virgil isn't Homer and this epic lacks much found in the Greek epics.
The translator has given us the real Virgil in English. And it is neat to know how to pronounce all those ancient names that I have been stumbling over for years.
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