This version of the book has been reviewed in English(21) by readers.
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What are readers saying about The Aeneid of Virgil?
| Reviews of The Aeneid of Virgil - Page 1 of 3 |
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A reader posted a review at 2009-10-01 16:41:32.
(Language: English)
   
Hard as hell to translate
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Kim posted a review at 2009-08-18 19:18:59.
(Language: English)
As is true with most people, I liked the first half better than the second half, in the same way I liked the Odyssey better than the Iliad. I just don't like long battle descriptions with all their dismembered bodies and oozing brain matter. But lost guys sailing ships around the Mediterranean and meeting up with strange mythical creatures and love-sick women (with a side trip to Hades) -- now that's a good story.
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A reader posted a review at 2009-03-23 20:10:04.
(Language: English)
I really liked the story. I think I would have enjoyed the book much more if I didn't have to read it for a class.
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A reader posted a review at 2009-02-18 07:40:59.
(Language: English)
This is a surprisingly good read for an ancient book. I was really caught up in the story.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-10-13 21:52:22.
(Language: English)
I thought it was a lot better than The Odyssey. Aeneas was a really likable character. My favorite was Dido, though.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-06-13 01:01:17.
(Language: English)
Pure goodness... this translation perhaps is a not as readable as others and a little to straight forward. But I read the story in Latin, and Virgil's Aeneid surely belongs next to Dante's Inferno and Shakespeares... everything... on any bookshelf. The first six books are better than the latter six.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-04-17 21:15:33.
(Language: English)
Virgil's story telling is fascinating and so poetic. This is, actually, a historic account of 11th to 9th century bc events in Mediterranean. Troy was a prosperous Turanian (non-Greek) city. Greeks invaded and ramsacked it. Greeks, who still had the memories of Arcadia alive, had only recently settled from their nomadic lives. At that time, the main trading nation was the Phoenicians. Cartaghe was was found by a Phoenician princess. The survivors first sought asylum with the Phoenicians. From there, they moved on to Italy, where they fought with the local tribes and established themselves as Etruscans. They found Rome in 750 BC and started our modern calendar. The local Italic tribes ousted them and found the Roman republic which later became the Roman Empire. Etruscan name still remains as modern Tuscany. The lessons I learned from Virgil: When your world is destroyed by the invaders, don't despair. Start a new one. One day it may become the world empire. Follow your destiny. Don't be distracted. I feel sorry for Didot. Not really a happy ending. Storytelling at its best! The translation is faithful AND beautiful.Troy's story told not by the winners but by the losers. It is no surprise then Fatih Mehmet's famous words after conquering Istanbul (was Constantinople then) in 1453: "(By conquering Istanbul) I have finally settled the account we received by losing Troy."I also admired the defiance shown by the Troyans who were then started to be called the Etruscans in fulfilling their destiny and founding Rome on the axis mundi.Did you know that both Rome and Istanbul are founded on seven hills and Istanbul was once called the Eastern Rome?
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A reader posted a review at 2008-03-29 10:14:43.
(Language: English)
I had to read this in Latin at school. That marred the story slightly...
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A reader posted a review at 2008-02-20 05:58:28.
(Language: English)
I'd forgotten quite how good this is. Aeneas has to be one of the first modern heroes in Western literature. He's fallible, tormented and develops over the course of the work. Books two (the fall of Troy) and six (the Underworld) are stunning. Mandelbaum's translation is sublime. Without being a slave to the Latin he manages to convey the richness and flow of the original. It's worth reading for its own qualities and not just as a tranlation. A very good effort Mr.Virgil, I shall give it five stars.
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A reader posted a review at 2008-02-15 05:18:59.
(Language: English)
Epic poem from poet Virgil who, like Homer, blends history with origins mythology. Here Rome is founded by wandering survivors of Troy, war between superpowers Carthage and Rome erupts, and Virgil tries to blend the Illiad style war epic with the Odyssey style grand voyage epic. Along with opposition and combat come lessons in duty, honor, piety, and patriarchal bonds in a similar vein to Augustan social mores and reforms.
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| Reviews of The Aeneid of Virgil - Page 1 of 3 |
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