What should I tell of autumn’s storms, and stars, and what men must watch for when the daylight shortens, and summer becomes more changeable, or when spring pours down showers, when spiked crops bristle in the fields, and wheat swells with sap on its green stem?[1] Our October selection is from the Roman poet Virgil: the pastoral poem Georgics. This work is divided into four books: Book I discusses agriculture… Read more
While thus in distant region moves the war, down to bold Turnus Saturn’s daughter sends celestial Iris. In a sacred vale, the seat of worship at his grandsire’s tomb, Pilumnus, Faunus’ son, the hero mused. And thus the wonder-child of Thaumas called with lips of rose: (Aeneid 9.1–7 translated by Theodore C.Williams) In previous Book Club discussions we have read Virgil’s Aeneid Books 1–8, which covered the fall of Troy, the escape… Read more
Now had the flaming sun attained his way to the mid-sphere of heaven, when they discerned walls and a citadel in distant view, with houses few and far between; ‘t was there, where sovran Rome to-day has rivalled Heaven, Evander’s realm its slender strength displayed: swiftly they turned their prows and neared the town. (Aeneid 8.95–101, translated by A.S. Kline) In previous Book Club discussions we have read Virgil’s Aeneid Books 1–6,… Read more
We were excited to welcome back Gregory Nagy of Harvard University, Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature and the Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington, DC. The topic of the discussion is Virgil’s Aeneid, Book 4 and Book 6. You can view the event down below or on our YouTube channel. Mentioned in the discussion: Fontaine, Michael. “Aeneas in Palestine” Eidolon. 2015.04.27… Read more
A guest post by Laura Ford We have all heard stories of “book burnings” that leave us with a sense of horror at the irretrievable loss of priceless literary and artistic treasures. In some cases, as in the burning of the Library of Alexandria, the true cause of the burning will probably never be known. In other cases, a specific political intent to suppress the content of the books is… Read more