Product Description
The Poems and Fragments of Catullus is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Gaius Valerius Catullus is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Gaius Valerius Catullus then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Catullus, who lived during some of the most interesting and tumultuous years of the late Roman Republic, spent his short but intense life (?84-54 B.C.E.) in high Roman society, rubbing shoulders with various cultural and political luminaries, including Caesar, Cicero, and Pompey. Catullus's poetry is by turns ribald, lyric, romantic, satirical; sometimes obscene and always intelligent, it offers us vivid pictures of the poet's friends, enemies, and lovers. The verses to his friends are bitchy, funny, and affectionate; those to his enemies are often wonderfully nasty. Many poems brilliantly evoke his passionate affair with Lesbia, often identified as Clodia Metelli, a femme fatale ten years his senior and the smart, adulterous wife of an arrogant aristocrat. Cicero later claimed she poisoned her husband.
This new bilingual translation of Catullus's surviving poems by Peter Green is fresh, bawdy, and utterly engaging. Unlike its predecessors, it adheres to the principle that the rhythm of a poem, whether familiar or not, is among the most crucial elements for its full appreciation. Green provides an essay on the poet's life and literary background, a historical sketch of the politically fraught late Roman Republic in which Catullus lived, copious notes on the poems, a wide-ranging bibliography for further reading, and a full glossary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

indispensable
i am currently translating the extant works of Catullus, in aid of which i have 6 different translations.Peter Green's is the one that is indispensable, as well as the most pleasurable to read for its own sake.

for example, on the page facing his translation is the Latin text, a sine qua non for appreciating Catullus's brilliance.

there is also a glossary that explains the significance of each proper name to the poem in which it appears.and, most helpfully, there are notes to each poem that summarize not only Green's wise interpretation, but various views by other Catullus scholars.

the translation itself strikes a perfect balance, to my taste, of the literal Latin, Catullus's meaning and intent, and elegance (without stuffiness or pretension).

if you are going to buy only one book of Catullus's poems, or are thinking about adding to your collection of them, this is the one to get.

centuries later, still the king of filth and wisdom
I am not a Latin scholar, so I can't judge the translation itself. (This collection has a parallel layout, so you can see the Latin original alongside the English translation.) Peter Green's introduction clearly explains the route he took (rhtyhm/meter, not meaning) to guide his translation, and I was startled that his remarks were not at all stuffy or full of academic exclusivity. The historical and poetic background included makes it much easier to approach Catullus, and I am disappointed that there are not more texts that strive to be so accessible. I took a college class where Catullus was discussed briefly, but without knowing about his complicated personal life and the details of his era, he really just came across as a disgusting jerk tormenting others. This is far from the full story, as Green's introduction informs us. Catullus is humanized and allows you to see the motivations and even sense behind his vulgarity.

Green's commentary and annotations also make it easier to feel even close to Catullus. Names of people mentioned are referenced and notes on each poem elucidate obscure references. I particularly enjoyed the glossary of "dramatis personae" because it gave a sense of immediacy to Catullus' long-gone world. He was writing about real people, and if you know a bit about these characters, you can see why Catullus had to say what he had to say.

I'm very happy with this presentation of his work, as I wondered whether anyone would be so honest AND lyrical today, and why poetry isn't fun anymore. A lot of Catullus is a good time, and when he's miserable, it's real, raw and disgusting human misery. This is poetry for all the experiences that maybe others felt too naked to write about.

weird cover art, but great read
I've been reading this book on-and-off for a few months now -- primarily because Catullus' poetry is too snarky and antagonistic for me to digest in a single bout.

In any case, I recently noticed that the cover art makes the title look like it reads:

"Cornificus, and (my god!) so
boring A BILINGUAL EDITION and
it keeps getting worse now, daily"

Well, that's not true. Catullus' poems are stunning, to say the least, as well as timeless. Reading through the fantastic and edgy English translation of this book makes me want to buff up a bit more on my Latin.

Lovely Edition
Facing pages of Latin and English text and my favorite translation of Catullus. It's less portable than the Loeb, but completely worth it! Buy this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In this third edition, thoroughly revised, Daniel H. Garrison makes these famous poems more accessible than ever to students of Latin. A standard college textbook as well as a comprehensive reference, the book includes a brief introduction about the poet's life and the character of his poems, a fresh recension of all 113 poems, and a commentary in English on each poem, explaining difficult points of Latin, features of Catullus' artistry, and background information. The notes to each poem also illuminate the meaning of Catullus' language, with explanations of word choice, word order, sound effects, and meter. Additional aids to the reader are a Who's Who of the most important people in Catullus' poems, an introduction to Catullan meters, a glossary of literary terms used in the commentary, a complete Latin-English Catullan vocabulary, and six maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

3rd ed - excellent
The third edition to Garrison's Catullus is an improvement from the last edition.A minor revision includes updated bibliography concerning textual tradition.But the big improvement is the reformatting of the book's type-face.It is now set in Minion Pro which is easier to read, in my opinion, than Times New Roman.In other words, it is beautifully laid out to present a good book overall.Other things: still remaining are the commentary and vocabulary in the back of the book.

A very helpful book
I am a T.A. for a course in Catullus, and I find this book to be very helpful.Included in this volume are the complete extant works of Catullus, a Catulluan vocabulary (crucial because some of Catullus' more colorful vocabulary does not appear in all dictionaries), a brief and informative commentary, a list of people to whom Catullus makes reference, a review of Catullus' meters, and a glossary of terms and their definitions.This book is extremely helpful and is ideal for a student reading Catullus for the first time or a more experienced Latin reader who is attempting to read Catullus' corpus as quickly as possible.

A bit of an eyesore of a book, but useful
Daniel H. Garrison's THE STUDENT'S CATULLUS, published by University of Oklahoma press, contains all 113 poems of the standard collection which are belived to be authentic, including the fragmentary poems. Garrison provides an introduction and notes for the individual poems, as well as four appendices on various matters ("People", "Meters", "[Poetic] Terms", and "Poetic Usage") and a complete vocabulary. In his notes, Garrison often directs the student towards the meaning without giving it away as such, preserving the comedic impact of much of the shorter poems. While no scholar could deny the obscenity of much of Catullus' poetry, Garrison sometimes shows a shyness in his notes which I found odd. I used THE STUDENT'S CATULLUS for a semester-long course at Loyola University Chicago, and thought that it served my needs well.

If there is one big downside to the book, it is the typesetting. The Latin text is fine, but the notes and commentary are all done in hideous double-columns and a typeface smaller than the Latin. This is one of the least professional-looking academic books I've come across in a while. Still, that doesn't stop the content from being useful, so THE STUDENT'S CATULLUS is worth seeking out.

The perfect edition for students
This handy edition is perfect for the casual reader of Latin.Garrison'sextensive notes answer most questions a reader is likely to have concerningthe grammer and they also provide a considerable amount of releventmythology.The book also contains a complete vocabulary which I have foundinvaluable.This is not a scholarly edition, but provides everything forthe non-scholar.

Flawed...
Garrison's book is not the soundest text for people reading Catullus in Latin.For one thing, the book does a disservice in "titling" every poem in the collection with an English one-liner...this goes a longway towards influencing the reader before s/he even reads the Latin. Second, there is no critical apparatus with the Latin text...and with apoet like Catullus, for whom textual issues are more than marginallyimportant, this is a lamentable loss...even beginning Latin students can besophisticated enough not to think that the text of an author was handeddown by Jupiter on golden tablets...or in this case, in a forest greenpaperback.Fordyce's 1961 Oxford commentary remains standard for the poemshe covers(and contrary to popular lore he did not leave the others outout of a sense of Puritanism but rather because the Oxford Press at thetime thought the book would sell to a larger market with the obscene poemsomitted)...there is also Merrill, still in print(he has every poem)...andfor more accomplished Latinists, we now have Thomson's big 1997 volume.Ifyou can find it, Kenneth Quinn's 1970 commentary on the whole corpus isalso worth a close look... ... Read more

Product Description
The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Gaius Valerius Catullus is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Gaius Valerius Catullus then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection contains all of Catullus’s extant work. Ranging from the tender, moving, and passionate to the vicious and even obscene, these are poems of astonishingly modern force and content. The lively translation by Peter Whigham re-creates the dexterity, passion, and perception of the original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More contemporary than you'd think.
I was recommended this book by a friend and was pleasantly surprised.Catullus' concerns in these poems strike me as contemporary concerns: love, lust, friendship, making your way in the world.The erotic poems are hot stuff, and surprised me as being pretty graphic at times.Guys, take poem #32 from this edition and send it to your lady.Be prepared for some hot lovin' to follow.You'll also sound highly intelligent reciting Catullus to friends and lovers.Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Of all Greek and Latin poets Catullus is perhaps the most accessible to the modern reader.Dealing candidly with the basic human emotions of love and hate, his virile, personal tone exerts a powerful appeal on all kinds of readers.The 116 poems collected in this new translation include the famous Lesbia poems and display the full range of Catullus's mastery of lyric meter, mythological themes, and epigrammatic invective and wit. ... Read more

Product Description
Of all Greek and Latin poets Catullus is perhaps the most accessible to the modern reader.Dealing candidly with the basic human emotions of love and hate, his virile, personal tone exerts a powerful appeal on all kinds of readers.The 116 poems collected in this new translation include the
famous Lesbia poems and display the full range of Catullus's mastery of lyric meter, mythological themes, and epigrammatic invective and wit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A great intro to a great poet
What can you say about Catullus? He's the poet's poet, a master of structure and language and image and soulful composition. These poems are a high point in classical literature.

The translation is reasonably good, considering the material. The language flows and in the places where the translator attempts to match the spirit of the original, although often the literal meaning of the original is lost. As others have said, he takes a few liberties to try to tweak the rating down to at least a heady PG-13, and that's not the best way to treat the poet.Most often, in this case, what is lost is the impact of the meter on the feel of the sentiment of the poem. But that can't be helped, there's no way to substitute a translation for he real thing, and as far as translations go this one is the best I've ever seen.

For students only
As a Latin student of Catullus, this book was recommended to me as a guide. While the format is great for students, Latin on the left side, English on the other, I have one serious quarrel with the translation. The translator takes many liberties and does NOT translate literally. He tries to make the English version sound as poetic as Catullus would and fails. Also, Catullus is very graphic in his descriptions of lewd acts and the translator flufs the English version to make it PG-13 instead of the intended R rating.

From Bed to Bed
"How many kisses satisfy, how many are enough and more?"
--Gaius Valerius Catullus

Catullus--wealthy, witty, and elegant--was only 30 when he died in Republican Rome, leaving a relatively small quantity of verse.

Written for his circle of friends, his bawdy and sexually direct lyrics can sometimes shock. His most memorable poetry, as passionate and sensuous as it is subtle, focuses on his love for an unattainable married woman named Lesbia and his changing attitudes towards her.

(...)

Roman poet bisected by Eros...
This review relates to -Catullus: The Complete Poems-,
Translated and Edited by Guy Lee, Oxford World's Classics,
ISBN: 0192835874.
In the poet Catullus, we have a very interesting figure.
On the one hand he has a mentality which is satiric,
sharp-tongued in its sting (waspish, if not scorpion)
which is quick to feel a slight and retaliate in
even gutter-talk hyperbole -- yet, also, there is a
very intelligent, sensitive, driven soul which is
all too sensitive to its desires, its frustrations,
and the manipulations of others.
Catullus was fascinated and mesmerized and played with
by a woman whom he calls "Lesbia" (who may or may not
have been a notorious Clodia Pulcher, wife of Metellus
Celer -- "notorious for her sexual license, who was
even rumored to have murdered her husband Metellus by
poison" -- Lee, "Introduction.")But Catullus is also
drawn to and played with by a young male whom he calls
"Juventius" (Poems XXIV, XLVIII, LXXXI, and XCIX,
and the series dealing with male love, XV-XXVI).
According to Guy Lee in his "Introduction": "Indeed it
would be true to say that we know more about Catullus
from his poetry than about any other classical poet,
with the exception of Horace and Ovid. This is because
two thirds of his work are concerned with actual moments,
incidents, and personalities in his life.Virtually all
his epigrams (I-LX as well as LXIX - CXVI) are concerned
with his emotional reactions to other people, his
contemporaries."
According to Lee, also, "Catullus came from a rich and
influential family in the neighbourhood of Verona.He
had the entree to high society in Rome and like the
satirist Lucilius in the previous century could afford
to throw his weight about."However, Catullus is
also highly intelligent and literate: "...Catullus is
well known as a *doctus poeta* or scholar-poet (Martial
calls hiim *doctus* on several occasions) and was well
acquainted with Greek literature, as is shown by his
translations from Sappho and Callimachus, his knowledge
of Greek epigram, and his not unlikely connection with
the Hellenistic poet Pathenius...."
The sensitive side of Catullus can be found in the
poems bemoaning the loss of his brother in a foreign
land -- and the description of the betrayal and
abandonment of Ariadne by Theseus (Poem LXIV).
The best poem summing up Catullus might be LXXXV:
I hate and love.Perhaps you're asking
why I do that?
I don't know, but I feel it
happening, and am racked.
-- Robert Kilgore.

A unique voice from the past
All of humanity is but wind racing over the plain of life, never to return. What we have in the poetry of Catullus is an echo of deeply felt love from long ago. Catullus had what I would deem a very un-Roman view of the world. His voice of passion rises, if only briefly, above the usual din of duty and "the good life." It is a wonder to think on the paths pages must make to descend to future generations. It is a happy coincidence that these fascinating pages by a man with a unique voice have come unto us. ... Read more

Product Description
Catullus (Gaius Valerius, 84–54 BCE), of Verona, went early to Rome, where he associated not only with other literary men from Cisalpine Gaul but also with Cicero and Hortensius. His surviving poems consist of nearly sixty short lyrics, eight longer poems in various metres, and almost fifty epigrams. All exemplify a strict technique of studied composition inherited from early Greek lyric and the poets of Alexandria. In his work we can trace his unhappy love for a woman he calls Lesbia; the death of his brother; his visits to Bithynia; and his emotional friendships and enmities at Rome. For consummate poetic artistry coupled with intensity of feeling Catullus's poems have no rival in Latin literature.

Tibullus (Albius, ca. 54–19 BCE), of equestrian rank and a friend of Horace, enjoyed the patronage of Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, whom he several times apostrophizes. Three books of elegies have come down to us under his name, of which only the first two are authentic. Book 1 mostly proclaims his love for 'Delia', Book 2 his passion for 'Nemesis'. The third book consists of a miscellany of poems from the archives of Messalla; it is very doubtful whether any come from the pen of Tibullus himself. But a special interest attaches to a group of them which concern a girl called Sulpicia: some of the poems are written by her lover Cerinthus, while others purport to be her own composition.

The Pervigilium Veneris, a poem of not quite a hundred lines celebrating a spring festival in honour of the goddess of love, is remarkable both for its beauty and as the first clear note of romanticism which transformed classical into medieval literature. The manuscripts give no clue to its author, but recent scholarship has made a strong case for attributing it to the early fourth-century poet Tiberianus.

Customer Reviews (8)

Ancients In a Translation That is Alive Today
The Loeb Classical Library collects three poets of love together in one volume.First, Catullus is probably the most often studied poet of the group. The reading the poems and glancing across the page at the Latin original gives the reader a much stronger sense for how carefully crafted Catullus's verse is.The Loeb editon has been in circulation for about 90 years; however, it has recently been revised and reissued.Since Catullus was a little racy for the early 20th Century, many of his poems were translated into a very stilted form (or not translated at all).The new edition from Loeb corrects this and takes into account the 100 years of classical scholarship to produce a very authoratative and readable edition.

Second, Tibullus presents an interesting case, because few if any of his poems can directly be attributed to him.This in and of itself may not merit much attention -- particularly after reading the textual introduction which described just how torured a path classical texts have walked in coming down to us today.The poems about Sulpicia are the real interest here in that they may be written by her.

Finally, Tiberianus's Pervigilium Veneris attracts attention because it suggests the move away from classical poetry to Medieval forms.

The Loeb edition is well crafted with sewn binding and acid-free paper.These poets have survived 2000 years, and the Loeb edition is sure to be valued for generations.

Different edition...
I read all of the reviews on Amazon, but they all seem to refer to different editions than the one advertised. There are dozens of editions of Catullus, including at least two by Goold--but these two editions have quite different purposes. The Loeb edition has parallel texts, Latin and English, but no commentary. The advertised volume (ISBN 0715617109) is heavier on commentary and notes. I would like to see a review that evaluates this edition and its author's interpretations and opinions. In the meantime, the reader should ignore my rating of this item, I really don't know how good it is--just that the editor does have a distinguished reputation.

Catullus reader
This is a Catullus reader with all of his poems.It's a "loab" with the Latin on one side and English on the other.It should be in every Latin teacher's personal library.This copy arrived on time and in excellent condition.

Classic Poetry of the Late Republic/Early Empire
Gaius Valerius Catullus was a contemporary of Julius Caesar and was known for his provocative poetry.In addition to Catullus, this great little edition by Loeb's has all of Tibullus (a later poet under the reign of Augustus) as well all in one edition.

Although Catullus wrote many erotic or amorous poems to men (he was bi-sexual) and his lover Lesbia, many of his poems are actually invectives attacking some of his contemporaries such as Julius Caesar.One of his greatest invective works is the one against Egnatius which goes as follows:

"Egnatius, because he has white teeth, is eternally smiling. If people come to the prisoner's bench, when the counsel for the defense is making everyone cry, he smiles: if they are mourning at the funeral of a dear son, when the distrought mother is weeping for her only boy, he smiles: whatever it is, wherever he is, whatever he is doing, he smiles: it is a malady he has, neither an elegant one as I think, nor in good taste. So I must give you a bit of advice, my good Egnatius. If you were a Roman or a Sabine or Tiburtine or a plump Umbrian or a fat Etruscan, or a black and tusky Lanuvian, or a Transpadane (to touch my own people too), or anybody else who washes his teeth with clean water, I still should not like you to be always smiling; for there is nothing sillier than a silly laugh. As it is, you are a Celtiberian; now in the Celtiberian country everyone regularly brushes his teeth and ruddy gums in the morning with his piss; so that, the more highly polished your teeth are, the more urine they will prove to have passed your lips."

If this type of poetry appeals to you, then you will probably like most of Catullus' works as well as other ancient Roman poetry.

The Loeb library is unique in that its classical texts are printed in both the original Latin text and English side-by-side. The translations are quite good and were done by competent scholars of classics whose choice of language is accurate, clear, and modern. These hard bound volumes are small but their covers are durable: the paper is of good quality. Good companions to this text would be Loeb's editions of Ovid's works and those of Martial who lived later in the Empire.

Catullus and Tibullus: Exemplars of Roman Love Poetry
Catullus and Tibullus relatively belong to the same epoch in the history of Latin Poetry; and they also derive their inspiration through the same source--from Erato the Muse of Love Poetry. What one will encounter, then, while reading their works, is what may be perhaps the finest manifestation of Roman Love Poetry that has been passed over to us through the ages.With the exception of Propertius or Ovid, Catullus and Tibullus have no rival when it comes to the art of love poetry; and one may argue that the former poets only surpass the later in their bulk of extant poems and in their depth of subject-matter. Also included in this volume, is the Vigil of Venus, a warm and colorful poem attributed to a certain Tiberianus, who belongs to much later time, likely during the reign of the Antonines.As the introduction points out, the Vigil of Venus contains the first piece of Romanticism to be found in Western Poetry. It is a poem of exceptional merit, and it is not unworthy of the majesty of Catullus and Tibullus.Taken as a whole, students of Latin Literature, and poets of our day, have much to learn and enjoy by reading these noble classics. ... Read more

Product Description
This reader contains selections from Catullus, designed for students moving from elementary or intermediate Latin into reading the authentic Latin of Catullus. Passages are accompanied by pre-reading materials, grammatical exercises, complete vocabulary, notes designed for reading comprehension, and other reading aides. Introductory materials (including a section on Catullan meters) and illustrations are included.

Special Features

* pre-reading materials for each passage of Latin, designed to help the student understand the underlying cultural and literary concepts in the Latin passage
* short explanations related to the grammatical and syntactical usages that will be found in the passage, accompanied by exercises
* the first version of the Latin text with gapped words in parentheses and difficult noun-adjective pairings highlighted by the use of a different font
* complete vocabulary and grammatical notes on the page facing the Latin passage. Any vocabulary word found in the passage but not in the notes is found in the pull-out vocabulary at the back of the book
* the second version of the Latin text in its unchanged form
* literary notes on the page facing the unchanged Latin text
* post-reading materials for each passage designed to help the student understand Vergil's style of writing and to allow the student to reflect upon what has been read
* the last four Latin passages do not contain any of the transitional aides such as gapped words or the use of fonts. Notes on grammar, vocabulary, and literary analysis continue to be on the page facing the passage

Comparison

This series of transitional readers is the first to use proven reading techniques to aid students in making the transition from a basal textbook to an authentic Latin author. The Catullus Transitional Reader is the second book of the series to be published and is specifically designed to help students learn to read Catullus before they are enrolled in an AP Latin Poetry course.

Also available:

Vergil: A Legamus Transitional Reader - ISBN 0865165785
Writing Passion: A Catullus Reader - 0865164835

For over 30 years Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has produced the highest quality Latin and ancient Greek books. From Dr. Seuss books in Latin to Plato's Apology, Bolchazy-Carducci's titles help readers learn about ancient Rome and Greece; the Latin and ancient Greek languages are alive and well with titles like Cicero's De Amicitia and Kaegi's Greek Grammar. We also feature a line of contemporary eastern European and WWII books.

Some of the areas we publish in include:

Selections From The Aeneid
Latin Grammar & Pronunciation
Greek Grammar & Pronunciation
Texts Supporting Wheelock's Latin
Classical author workbooks: Vergil, Ovid, Horace, Catullus, Cicero
Vocabulary Cards For AP Selections: Vergil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace
Greek Mythology
Greek Lexicon
Slovak Culture And History ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It works!
I'm a student, a self-learner, always on the lookout for material to help me move into 'real Latin.'CATULLUS: A LEGAMUS TRANSITIONAL READER fits the bill.It works -- I can read Latin!

The text is visually inviting.The print is large, easy to read, no page is so filled with material that it's cramped.

Each of the 19 progressively difficult (another plus) selections includes:

* An introduction that briefly tells what the poem is about;
* One grammatical point, appearing in that poem, to focus on;
* A clear explanation of that grammatical point, examples in English, and exercises;
* A blank page for your own notes;
* Things to think about before reading the poem;
* Separate vocabulary and notes lists;
* Facing the above, the editors' version of the poem with omitted words in parentheses; if necessary, the poem's words are put into an order more natural to English speakers; related words that don't appear near each other in a different font so they stand out;
* The poem, or part of the poem, as written by Catullus (with macrons);
* Questions and things to think about after having read the poem.
* Simple and clear explanation of meter.

In keeping with a comprehensive approach, there's a drawn map of Catullus's world, articles about Catullus's life and works, about Lesbia, a list of suggested translations, a grammatical appendix (great for skimming through to catch things you may have forgotten), and a pull-out vocabulary sheet with basic words.

My complaints are few and minor.Every now and again, there's something that I feel could've used a more detailed explanation, or a vocabulary word for which I found a better definition in the dictionary.Minor stuff.Forget I said anything.

Best of all, CATULLUS gives me hope.Here's real Latin that, with the help of Prof. Kitchell and Mr. Smith, I can now READ! ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Sensual, salacious and above all scandalous, the erotic verse of the Roman poet Catullus has delighted - and shocked - readers for centuries. Charting the lives and loves of a group of smart young men about Rome during the late Republic, Catullus' urbane poetry is renowned for its emotional range and psychological insight, not to mention its often startling obscenity. Josephine Balmer's new translation of the complete shorter poems highlights both the intense lyricism and scabrous wit of the original, bringing Catullus' vivid cast of characters back to life for a new audience. ... Read more

Product Description
Catullus, who lived from about 84 to 54 BC, was one of ancient Rome’s most gifted, versatile and passionate poets. In this accessible short book Amanda Kolson Hurley explores the many facets of Catullus’ poetry, discussing in detail over twenty of his most important poems, ranging from obscene and abusive epigrams to delicate lyrics and formal wedding hymns. Catullus relates many of his poems in the first person, and may therefore seem an artlessly sincere narrator, yet this impression is misleading. Hurley examines the skilful rhetoric the poet employs to gain his reader’s sympathy, and confronts a major difficulty involved in reading Catullus: while the autobiographical hints in his most famous poems make us want to learn more about him, much of his history has been lost. The book presents the poet’s work clearly in the context of ancient Roman culture and society, and looks at the reception of Catullus in English literature, a tradition that has shaped modern thinking about the poet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Latin user
I went through this book of poems after finishing the Ecce Romani series. It was a great way to see the language used in a different way, and it was a bit more enjoyable.

helped me a ton with my translations...
This guide to Horace and Catullus poems is really good.I guess some people need to be warned that this does not help you learnLatin for the first time (you should get Wheelock's Latin or something similar in that case).
This guide makes the assumption that you already know your Latin essentials (but have trouble piecing things together when you actually deal with the real stuff), and serves as a guide to translation for advanced students.I found it to be really useful because it just about replaced my teacher in that it provides explanations in grammar and syntax.Translating poems can be rather difficult because the ancient poets often did not conform completely to the "rules of Latin" as we know it, such as omitting words that are simply "understood", using poetic devices that may be unfamiliar, and messing around with words to make them fit the meter - which can easily throw students off.And several times looking in a general Latin text won't aid you with the specific problem of the poem you are dealing with.That's why this book is so handy; it deals with those specific problems.It also throws in vocabulary so you don't have to always go looking things up.This thing made my life much easier as I was translating Catullus; I didn't have to run to my teacher as often or tediously try to look things up in another text for help that was usually of too general a nature.
The only drawback is that it covers a limited number of selected poems.Make sure you check out what poems are offered to see if it'll be of aid in the long run.OR if you simply enjoy translating, and any poem will do for you, this guide offers some of the most famous ones from the poets, in which case it will sure to be of help (given that you have already studied the grammar and basics of the language)!

book only good for text not learning
this book has many famous poems and writings of these people, but you don't learn any real latin in here. ... Read more

Product Description
Catullus, who lived during some of the most interesting and tumultuous years of the late Roman Republic, spent his short but intense life (?84-54 B.C.E.) in high Roman society, rubbing shoulders with various cultural and political luminaries, including Caesar, Cicero, and Pompey. Catullus's poetry is by turns ribald, lyric, romantic, satirical; sometimes obscene and always intelligent, it offers us vivid pictures of the poet's friends, enemies, and lovers. The verses to his friends are bitchy, funny, and affectionate; those to his enemies are often wonderfully nasty. Many poems brilliantly evoke his passionate affair with Lesbia, often identified as Clodia Metelli, a femme fatale ten years his senior and the smart, adulterous wife of an arrogant aristocrat. Cicero later claimed she poisoned her husband.
This new bilingual translation of Catullus's surviving poems by Peter Green is fresh, bawdy, and utterly engaging. Unlike its predecessors, it adheres to the principle that the rhythm of a poem, whether familiar or not, is among the most crucial elements for its full appreciation. Green provides an essay on the poet's life and literary background, a historical sketch of the politically fraught late Roman Republic in which Catullus lived, copious notes on the poems, a wide-ranging bibliography for further reading, and a full glossary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

indispensable
i am currently translating the extant works of Catullus, in aid of which i have 6 different translations. Peter Green's is the one that is indispensable, as well as the most pleasurable to read for its own sake.

for example, on the page facing his translation is the Latin text, a sine qua non for appreciating Catullus's brilliance.

there is also a glossary that explains the significance of each proper name to the poem in which it appears. and, most helpfully, there are notes to each poem that summarize not only Green's wise interpretation, but various views by other Catullus scholars.

the translation itself strikes a perfect balance, to my taste, of the literal Latin, Catullus's meaning and intent, and elegance (without stuffiness or pretension).

if you are going to buy only one book of Catullus's poems, or are thinking about adding to your collection of them, this is the one to get.

Catullus!
I am a Latin student studying for the AP Latin Lit Exam and I bought this book because it had every Catullus poem in English and in Latin. The translations are very close to the original latin, while also capturing the spirit of the poems. Peter Green is a great translator and there is a great glossary of places and names as well as copious notes on the poems themselves. Highly recommended!

The Poems of Catullus:very useful adjunct to the AP Latin Lit classroom
I have enjoyed sharing the translation of Cat. 63 with my AP students, and the complete text of Cat. 64 (after they read the Ariadne episode in Latin).It's very easy to glance across the page at the Latin and get at least some sense of it; since what we're reading in translation is in addition to the AP syllabus, this seems appropriate.The translator's notes on 63 and 64 are also worth reading, in my opinion.Using this book has allowed me a better way to make my students at least somewhat familiar with the long poems of Catullus.

Less romantic than I expected
I got this book as a xmas gift from my mom. She picked it out from my wishlist. I've studied much Latin, but I completely skipped over Catullus as an undergrad. That's why, I put a Bilingual edition on my wish list rather than just an English translation. I wanted to get a real feel for the actual poetry.
I'm not very familiar with Catullus and I honestly thought that there would be more romantic love poems throughout the book. I think that it was a good thing that there were more 'vulgar' poems in the book because they left a strong impression and because they made those rare instances of romantic poetry stand out more brilliantly. Personally, my favorite poem was about Catullus thinking about his home. It really resonated with me because I have travelled so much.
I think that this is an excellent intermediate level Latin book and that if you haven't acquainted yourself with Catullus, this is the method to do so!
kittie ... Read more

Product Description
The Latin text of Catullus' poems that is required reading for the AP Latin Literature Exam is contained in this workbook. The exercises in the workbook give students practice with all aspects of the AP Catullus syllabus: content, translation, meter, grammar, syntax, figures of speech, and literary analysis. In addition, the format of the exercises accustoms the students to all the kinds of questions found on the AP Catullus Examination. These workbooks contain the Latin text that is on the AP syllabus accompanied by exercises (grammar, translation, short answer analysis, scansion if appropriate, figures of speech, and essay questions) that will both help students to read and understand the literature as well as prepare for the AP examination. In addition, teacher's manuals will feature the entire student text along with the answers.

Also available:

A Vergil Workbook - ISBN 0865166145
An Ovid Workbook - ISBN 0865166250

For over 30 years Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has produced the highest quality Latin and ancient Greek books. From Dr. Seuss books in Latin to Plato's Apology, Bolchazy-Carducci's titles help readers learn about ancient Rome and Greece; the Latin and ancient Greek languages are alive and well with titles like Cicero's De Amicitia and Kaegi's Greek Grammar. We also feature a line of contemporary eastern European and WWII books.

Some of the areas we publish in include:

Selections From The Aeneid
Latin Grammar & Pronunciation
Greek Grammar & Pronunciation
Texts Supporting Wheelock's Latin
Classical author workbooks: Vergil, Ovid, Horace, Catullus, Cicero
Vocabulary Cards For AP Selections: Vergil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace
Greek Mythology
Greek Lexicon
Slovak Culture And History
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

From a student who has actually used this book:
I used this book this past year in my Latin 3 class. I have been studying Latin for six years, and I just finished 10th grade. I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of the Latin class that used this book. This book itself isn't terrible, but it does have some major flaws. The layout is abhorrent with regards to the actual text. I personally like to make notes on the text itself, such as color-coding, marking scansion, circling phrases, or connecting chiasmus (chiasmi?). The text is so squished together that it is impossible to write any notes without covering another portion of text. There is also very little "white space" around the text to take side notes.More space is devoted to useless questions then to the text.
The glossary is also awful, you're better off buying a separate Latin dictionary that using the one in the back. Personally, I would have also liked for there to be a translation or two available in the back. If you're stuck on a poem (particularly something like Catullus 64, which has to be divided into four sections, or something as subjective at Catullus 85) there is absolutely no help for you. Considering how subjective the Latin language is, I think it's stupid to not give at least some possible suggestions as to what a poem might mean, rather than forcing students to turn to places like Wikipedia (like my entire class did) to find out just basic information.
Also, some information on Catullus and his cast of characters would have been helpful in giving the poems context and background.

Despite this, you'd be hard-pressed to find any sort of alternative, given how pathetic the resources are for the study of Latin.

If you're assigned this book for class, I wish you luck, and pray that you have a better time of it than I did.

An essential and invaluable supplement
Co-authored by academicians Helena Dettmer (Professor of classics and Associate Dean at the University of Iowa) and LeaAnn A. Osburn (who until her recent retirement taught Latin at the Barrington High School, a regular presenter on Latin pedagogy at conferences around the country, and who serves as an editor for Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers for the Latin language instruction titles), "A Cattullus Workbook" is enhanced for the Latin language student with a Latin-to-English glossary developed by Ronnie Ancona. This superbly organized and presented workbook features the complete Latin text for all the selections on the AP Catullus syllabus; short answer questions addressing underlying grammatical and syntactical structures of each Catullus poem; multiple choice questions on grammar, syntax, figures of speech, and content; passages for scansion and translation; short and long essay questions; four review chapters (including essays requiring comparative analysis of the poems). Thoroughly 'student friendly', "A Catullus Workbook" will prove to be an essential and invaluable supplement to any highschool or college level Latin language instructional curriculum. ... Read more

Product Description
In these new verse translations, Martin makes newly accessible the work of one of ancient Rome's most widely read poets who wrote about the life and language of the people in the streets. (Poetry) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Look for the 1979 Abbatoir edition
I have the 1979 Abbatoir edition of this book, hand printed in Omaha by Harry Duncan and it is a gem. There were only 250 copies printed so it is probably a tough book to find out there but it is a treasure.
It's worth looking for.

For American English speakers only
Thiese translations by Martin are too cutesy in their use of modern American parlance.. 'Hooker,' ' his boy's fanny,' 'cruising,' 'faggot'... Ruins this book for me. I prefer the old Penguin edition I used to have.

Lively, vigorous translation with a contemporary feel
Catullus is one of the poets who first kindled my love of poetry, and I was delighted to discover this excellent recent translation. Martin beautifully conveys Catullus' many faces and moods, from the mock-sweet lyric about his mistress' dead sparrow, to the spare, anguished syllables of odi et amo...much recommended... ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR’d book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
In this companion, international scholars provide a comprehensive overview that reflects the most recent trends in Catullan studies.

• Explores the work of Catullus, one of the best Roman ‘lyric poets’
• Provides discussions about production, genre, style, and reception, as well as interpretive essays on key poems and groups of poems
• Grounds Catullus in the socio-historical world around him
• Chapters challenge received wisdom, present original readings, and suggest new interpretations of biographical evidence

Product Description
This volume is a supplement to Bender’s Catullus: AP Edition and contains the poems that are new to the 2004-05 Catullus Advanced Placement syllabus. The new poems are 14a, 30,40, 60,64 (lines 50-253), 65, 68 (lines 1-40), 69, and 116. The Latin text of these new poems is accompanied by an introductory headnote, and a complete running vocabulary on the facing page along with notes and commentary. A vocabulary glossary at the back of the book completes this volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Additional poems added to the 2005 AP Latin Exam!
Catullus for the AP: A Supplement is a necessary auxiliary text for students who are studying for the AP Latin exam with the original book Catullus for the AP by the same authors.This supplement provides all the additional poems by Catullus that were added to the advanced placement exam for 2005.When using this book to prepare for the AP exam, be sure to use it in conjunction with Catullus for the AP because it does not reprint the poems from the original book that will still be on the 2005 AP exam - this is just the additional poetry.The format of the book is the same as the originals with pages that are easy for teachers to reproduce for the class. ... Read more