Customer Reviews (1)

Never received the book
Not only did I never receive the book, the guy never returned my three emails asking about it. The book was a required text for my son...so not receiving made us scramble in September. I am still trying to get my money back. ... Read more

Product Description
As a young man, Cattullus moved to Rome and conducted a passionate affair with a woman whom he addresses as Lesbia. The "Lesbia" poems depict the progress of this relationship from first, careless rapture to final rupture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

DEFINATELY more fun than a dog's head on a stick
This guy is a genius.Found out about him through Colleen McCullough's books, and have been addicted ever since.
Reading him is to discover a bygone age that's at once disturbingly familiar, in all its decadent glory, the careless everyday passings and flings, the petty feuds, etc.He tells us who's sleeping with who, who's been jilted, who's beautiful and why it doesn't always matter, of love found, experienced, lost and rejection.His poems are bawdy, hilarious, totally un-p.c., stormy, dark and brooding, yet tender and poignant at the same time.

I especially liked poem 5 ("lesbia, let us love and live..."), poem 42 (the one about the notebook stealer) and 101 ("ave atque vale") -I hope I got the numbers right; I don't have the book in front of me.

A writer once claimed that Catullus' works are "more fun that waving a dog's head on a stick at your mother".While how fun a severed head might be I don't know (and wouldn't want to find out!), the poems are definately a treasure, and Michie's is by far the best translation (have read a few others, not nearly as good).

The Romans did have creativity...
Though hardly remembered as artsy, the Romans managed to muster some of the finer works of ancient times. From Aurelius to Catullus, the Roman culture has been given the shaft historically with all the talk of how stoic and unemotional the culture was. Catullus is exhibit A in the argument that Rome did have a heart, and a strong exhibit at that. These poems, along with other works by Catullus, accomplish something which few other foreign works can: retain beauty through translation. Whether by luck or design, the poems rival the best of Yeats and Keats in terms of expressing emotional discontent and making the ordinary seem extraordinary. To quote Coleridge, Catullus has "More than usual emotion with more than usual order." He's got a leash on his love but it still burns as brightly as any other poet's. ... Read more

Product Description
Written primarily in Latin, 1973 edition
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

EXCELLENT FOR LATINISTS
Oxford Classics are always a pleasure to have if you know well your Latin and Greek. If you're a serious student, you will enjoy it because of it's thorough apparatus criticus. If you're just an enthousiast, you will became more so. The text has no translation, but you can buy the translation separately and have a good authoritative text. An apparatus criticus is important for rendering and understanding interpretations. Also, the format is very nice. ... Read more

Product Description
The eighth title in the Cambridge Latin Texts Series. Primarily foruse in secondary schools on completion of the Cambridge Latin Course. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the first attempt to read the poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus in his own context; to look at the poet and his works against the cultural realities of the first century BC as recent advances in historical research allow us to understand them. Catullus' own social background, the circumstances of the literary life of his time, the true extent of his works and the variety of audiences he addressed - these and other questions are explored by Professor Wiseman with new and startling results. Contemporary high society and politics are illustrated through Clodia and Caelius Rufus, considered not as mere adjuncts to Catullus' story but as significant historical personalities in their own right. A final chapter on nineteenth- and twentieth-century interpretations of Catullus' world shows how anachronistic preconceptions have prevented a proper understanding of it, and made this radical reappraisal necessary. Anyone with a serious interest in Latin literature or Roman history will want to read this book. Students in the upper levels of school or at university will find it essential background reading to their work on Catullus and Cicero's Pro Caelio. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unusually good
This book tells you most everything that can be known or guessed about Catullus, and it does so in a way that is both erudite and entertaining--a rare combination.

Everything You Wanted to Know about Catullus . . .
...BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

This is a great book, and it's scholarly and exhaustively researched to boot.It's weird, because it's fun and great reading, but you really sense Wiseman's profound ability to get so close tosomething that is really so far away from our everyday lives--now this isscholarship! He's an intellectual but never haughty or boring. It'll makeyou want to read all of Catullus' poems right away in any kind of format. I can never tell people enough that it's okay to read Latin (or Greek)literature in translation.

The last chapter, concerning Lesbia and modernpoetry, is an amazing survey, tracing various poets' incarnations of theDivina Puella, from Marcus Antonius Flaminius' vision of Lesbia as aMedieval damsel-mannequin in distress, to Dorothy Parker's verdict ofLesbia as nothing more than ancient Rome's version of Holly Golightly.

I rarely read introductions, but Wiseman's inspired me, especially whenhe says that "the imagination of one callow youth was caught"when he first read the poems of Catullus when he was 14.Certainly hisimagination rivals Catullus' own. ... Read more

Product Description
This literary study of the first-century BCE Roman poet, Catullus uses two sets of comparative models to offer a new understanding of his poems. The first consists of cultural anthropological accounts of male social interaction in the premodern Mediterranean, and the second, the postmodern poetics of such twentieth-century poets as Louis Zukofsky, which are characterized by simultaneous juxtaposition, a "collage" aesthetic, and self-allusive play. The book will be of interest to students of comparative literature and gender studies as well as to classicists. ... Read more

Product Description
Catullus, best remembered for his tempestuous relationship with the notorious Clodia Metelli, was one of the most influential, original and enigmatic of all the Roman poets. This text presents a collection of his work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Odi et Amo
This is a blisteringly vitriolic, tawdry, funny and love-induced forray into modern poesy. The catch is that it was written by an ancient Roman poet. Although his historical background is a bit sketchy, it is believed that the poet was an established member of Rome's high culture and a son of wealth who had even come in contact with the great Caesar. One would never know this from the bawdy lyrics or the heart-wrenching songs one rarely equates with the unfeeling elite.

51

Godlike the man who
sits at her side, who
watches and catches
that laughter
which (softly) tears me
to tatters: nothing is
left of me, each time
I see her,
...tongue numbed; arms, legs
melting, on fire; drum
drumming in ears; head-
lights gone black.

Coda

Her ease is your sloth, Catullus
you itch & roll in her ease:

former kings and cities
lost in the valley of her arm.

As is evidenced in the above selection, Catullus was one of the great love poets of his or any age. These often beautiful and forlorned sentiments were mostly written for "Lesbia", a woman believed to have been married to a diplomat or some man of high rank whom Catullus never fully ensnarled with his wit and passion but seemingly had a long-tryst and/or tumultuous affair with.

But just as soon as you think that Catullus is E. E. Cummings you are shocked into the realization that this man was as multi-faceted and prone to "juvenilia" and sensationalistic raunchiness as say a Bukowski or Ginsberg.

88

What, Gellius, of the man
who itches with sister & mother
naked in night-vigils,
who 'lies-in' for his uncle,
what stain does he lay on himself?
Such, that not Tethys to far limits
no Ocean, father of Nereids, can cleanse:
no fouler brand (Gellius)
even supposing
one were to lower his head to his own loins
and swallow himself.

Just as well he could be straight-laced and political and silently thoughtful in the same way as he was exuberant and confessional.

93

Utter indifference to your welfare, Caesar,
is matched only by ignornace of who you are.

102

If, Cornelius, we entrust our secrets
only to those whom we know we can trust,
here is Catullus,
devoted to secrets & secrecy
a finger ever to his lips,
as mute as Harpocrates!

Another aspect of these translations by Peter Whigham, as witnessed above in "51", is the tendency to modernize the poems and language. "head-lights gone black." is one such example. Some scholars(http://www.classics.und.ac.za/reviews/94-2whig.html) say this is to their detriment as are Whigham's liberties with words being fitted to his artistic credo moreso than the original Latin texts. I'm no scholar, but have read several different translations thought to be more true to the original Latin and I must say that they are tedious and rubbery bores. They hold none of the lively magic or smart humor of the Whigham translations. To read the others is like reading Nietzsche by any translator other than Walter Kaufmann, you lose a bit of the modern scholarship and interpretation and lively poetry for stale accuracy's sake.

This is one of the few books I have used to excess, marking, creasing and breaking the spine open searching and re-learning these invaluable and poignant texts. Behind Jeffers, no poet other than Catullus is revered more by me.

A dreadful example of censorship in translation
Catullus is known for two things: the first being that his poems are one of the first unedited bits of poetry given to new latin students, and the second being his overt eroticism coupled with his savage wit.

Whigham seems to have no qualms at all about changing entire lines of the poems to soften the dirty bits, even in the works lasting no more than twenty lines.Even worse, if there's no way to clean up a line in translation, he simply leaves it untranslated.Take this example from poem 16:

You read of those thousand kisses.
You deduced an effeminacy there.
You were wrong.Sodomites. Furius & Aurelius.
Pedicabo et irrumabo vos.

While I'll admit, that last line's difficult to translate into English without using slang usually confined only to gay porn,the translator doesn't even have the stomach to attempt it.In my humble opinion, anyone willing to translate everything EXCEPT for the dirty bits has no business translating at all. ... Read more

Product Description
Sir Richard Burton's racy English translation. According to Wikipedia: "Gaius Valerius Catullus (ca. 84 BC – ca. 54 BC) was a Roman poet of the 1st century BC. His surviving works are still read widely, and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art." "Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was an English explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, linguist, poet, hypnotist, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia and Africa as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages. Burton's best-known achievements include traveling in disguise to Mecca, making an unexpurgated translation of The Book of One Thousand Nights and A Night (the collection is more commonly called The Arabian Nights in English because of Andrew Lang's abridgement) and the Kama Sutra and journeying with John Hanning Speke as the first Europeans, guided by Omani merchants who traded in the region, to visit the Great Lakes of Africa in search of the source of the Nile. He was a prolific author and wrote numerous books and scholarly articles about subjects including travel, fencing and ethnography. He was a captain in the army of the East India Company serving in India (and later, briefly, in the Crimean War). Following this he was engaged by the Royal Geographical Society to explore the east coast of Africa and led an expedition guided by the locals which discovered Lake Tanganyika. In later life he served as British consul in Fernando Po, Damascus and, finally, Trieste. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and was awarded a knighthood (KCMG) in 1886."

Responding to customer feedback, I made changes to the formatting of this file on 7/4/2009.If you bought a copy before then, you should be able to download the new version at no additional cost. Feedback always welcome.seltzer@samizdat.com ... Read more

Product Description
Born around 84 BC Catullus belonged to an influential and wealthy family. Later on in life, when Catullus moved to Rome, he was entertained in a style suitable for a fashionable young man. During this time it is thought that he embarked upon several love affairs. Catullus looks at the poet's love affairs with married women and how these affairs led to one of his most famous works, his poems to 'Lesbia'. Following the failure of these rather unsatisfactory loves, Catullus failed to write much more and died in obscure circumstances around the time of Caesar's invasion of Britain.

Product Description
This reader introduces intermediate Latin students to Catullus, Horace, and Ovid. It offers a transition to reading these authors by presenting slightly modified versions of poems before the students read the authentic Latin verse as review. Vocabulary, reading helps, grammar reviews with exercises, and discussion questions are included, as well as sections on metrics, poetic devices and a complete glossary.

Also available:

Horace: A Legamus Transitional Reader - ISBN 0865166765
Vergil: A Legamus Transitional Reader - ISBN 0865165785

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)

A collaborative effort by accomplished academicians
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers is a premier publisher of Latin language instruction materials and literature. One of their latest efforts to produce skill and fluency development in Latin is "A Little Book Of Latin Love Poetry: A Transitional Reader For Catullus, Horace, And Ovid", a collaborative effort by accomplished academicians John Breuker and Mardah B. C. Weinfield. Comprised of selections from six poems by Catullus, three poems by Horace, and two poems by Ovid. All of these poems are provided in authentic Latin. Special features include opposite-page vocabulary and reading helps; thirteen 'Rapid Reviews' with exercises on key points of grammar and syntax; two 'Major Reviews' with drills on infinitives and participles; and a 'Final Unit Review' which encourages re-reading all of the poems in their unmodified form, along with notes on 'Textual Matters' and 'Points to Ponder'. Enhanced with appendices providing timelines for the 3 poets, 'Poetic Devices/Literary Terms, Metrics, Latin Grammar and Syntex, a bibliography, a glossary of proper names, and a full Latin-English vocabulary, "A Little Book Of Latin Love Poetry" is an ideal and thoroughly 'student friendly' supplement to Latin Language instruction curriculums. Also very highly recommended from Bolchazy-Carducci for the student of Latin are "To Be A Roman" (9780865166332, $25.00); "Conversational Latin CD" (9780885166356, $33.00); Catullus Vocabulary Cards" (9780865166530, $19.00); and "Cattulus: LEGAMUS Transitional Reader (9780865166349, $32.00). ... Read more

Product Description
Co-published with the Classical Association of Atlantic States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Gold Standard of Catullus Texts
Forsyth is by far the best text I have ever used for teaching Catullus.Her notes are, in a word, superb.Her perspective combines impeccable scholarship and lucid analysis with a unique charm and wit that provides a wonderful extension of the spirit of the poet himself.This is no turgid tome; it is alive and fun to read. Forsyth does not shy away from the sexual poems; she discusses them with keen insight into the sexual practices of the ancient world. This book, together with Wiseman's Catullus and his World, is all you need to teach Catullus. ... Read more

Product Description
This edition of eighty poems of Catullus is designed for college students.An introduction deals with the life of Catullus, his indebtedness to Alexandrian poetry, and the later history of the poems. The commentary interprets the poems in the light of modern linguistic and literary scholarship.The Latin text comes from the Oxford Classical Text edition edited by Roger Mynors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An Essential Text
This book is not meant to be a translating guide.I have used and enjoyed the Student's Catullus published by the University of Oklahoma press.That said, Fordyce's commentary is the go-to guide for all students of Catullus.His commentary and insight are essential to understanding Catullus in the context of the late Republic and vis-a-vis Catullus' contemporaries.I have taken AP Latin Literature and I also recommend the AP Catullus book for those students.Fordyce's work is not meant to be used as an introduction to Catullus but a scholarly reference work.As a result, use it in a supplementary role when studying for the AP Latin Literature exam.Also recommended is Reading Latin Poetry, also published by the University of Oklahoma.

Excellent Resource for Catullus Fans
I have not reviewed most of this test, but I have seen my teacher of AP Latin use it. Fordyce is referenced by many others who have written on Catullus. For anyone translating the poems and trying to get some ideas about what Catullus may have been writing about (abstract theories, and realistic ones), this book is a muct have. I highly recommend it.

A Very Good Commentary
Although incomplete, Fordyce presents an extremely scholarly commentary on the wonderful poetry of Catullus, perhaps one of the best yet most underrated poets in the history of western literature. Though some suggestions are somewhat outlandish (e.g. poem 13) many are thought-provoking and truly serve to legitimize Catullus and display his great genius and talent.

A Very Good Commentary
Although incomplete, Fordyce presents an extremely scholarly commentary on the wonderful poetry of Catullus, perhaps one of the best yet most underrated poets in the history of western literature. Though some suggestions are somewhat outlandish (e.g. poem 13) many are thought-provoking and truly serve to legitimize Catullus and display his great genius and talent.

There are better and worse...
This particular slant on Catullus is not my favorite.The editor really seems to aim this book at those who have extensive knowledge of the Classical Languages. (some of the commentary is in attic greek)I am a high school student taking AP Latin who was given this text by my teacher because the book that I am supposed to be using is backordered. It takes me on the average twice as long to translate with this book than when I borrow the text that I should be working off of.(The Student's Catullus, by Garrison)Catullus, by Fordyce is not for the average student of latin, rather for the average latin teacher. ... Read more

Product Description
Embers of the Ancient Flame is a user-friendly introduction to the Latin love poetry of Catullus, Horace, and Ovid. Each poet has his distinctive voice: Catullus reels wildly between tender passion and jealous obsession, between adoring -- even slavish -- love and venomous hate. Horace seems less immediate, more voyeuristic, distancing himself by adopting a philosophically minded persona, or by coolly observing the passions of others. And Ovid, coy and striking -- though precious -- dazzles with references learned and mythological, calling his earnestness into doubt. In short, this selection runs the gamut of views on love.

Catullus, Horace, and Ovid lived during two of Rome's most dynamic eras, the late Republic and the early Empire. Their poetry provides a glimpse into the most personal parts of Roman life during historically and literarily singular times.

For College and International Baccalaureate curricula, this edition includes:

Introduction on Catullus, Horace, and Ovid
Introduction to each poem
Latin text of 32 poems with facing-page grammar and vocabulary notes
Maps and illustrations
Full vocabulary
Selected bibliography

Also available:

A Little Book of Latin Love Poetry: A Transitional Reader for Catullus, Horace, And Ovid - ISBN 0865166013
Ovid: Amores, Metamorphoses : Selections - ISBN 0865164312

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