From Library Journal
New publisher Paul Dry is starting out strong with this reprint of the 1965 volume edited by John Frederick Nims that is based on Arthur Golding's famous 1567 translation of Ovid's poetry. Golding's has been the favorite of writers and scholars the world over, including Shakespeare, who was a huge fan of his edition of Ovid. This version contains a new essay on Shakespeare and Ovid by scholar Jonathan Bate as well as notes and a glossary. Absolutely essential for academic collections, it will be an important addition to large public libraries as well. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Jonathan Bate's Essay,
"Ovid was Shakespeare's favorite classical poet. Both are writers who probe our humanity with great rigor, but ultimately do so in a spirit of sympathy for our frailties and indulgences. Ovid's world shuttles between human passions and natural phenomena. Shakespeare, with the assistance of Arthur Golding, carried the magic of that world into the medium of theatre."


From the Introduction by John Frederick Nims
"[Golding's translation] was the English Ovid from the time of publication in 1567 until about a decade after the death of Shakespeare in 1616. The Ovid, that is, for all who read him in English during the greatest period of our literature. And its racy verve, its quirks and oddities, its rugged English gusto, is still more enjoyable, more plain fun to read, than any other Metamorphoses in English."


Book Description
Perhaps the greatest ancient compilation of Western myths, Ovid's Metamorphoses includes the stories of Jove, Apollo, Mercury, and Venus. This first English translation, originally published in 1567, introduced Ovid's work to Shakespeare and inspired many of his plays. Golding's version brings to English Ovid's history of the Trojan War and the rise of Rome, and ends with the story of Julius Caesar. Also included are the famous myths of Pyramus and Thisbe, Jason and Medea, Orpheus, Hercules, and Pygmalion. A glossary of names and places and footnote definitions of archaic words make the text accessible to all readers.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin


About the Author
John Frederick Nims was a poet, a professor of English, and an editor of Poetry magazine and the Harper Anthology of Poetry.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Perhaps the greatest ancient compilation of Western myths, this includes stories of Jove, Apollo, Mercury, and Venus.This first English translation, originally published in 1567, introduced Ovid's work to Shakespeare and inspired many of his plays. Golding's version brings to English Ovid's history of the Trojan War and the rise of Rome, and ends with the story of Julius Caesar. Also included are the famous myths of Pyramus and Thisbe, Jason and Medea, Orpheus, Hercules, and Pygmalion. A glossary of names and places and footnote definitions of archaic words make the text accessible to all readers.

SYNOPSIS

Since its first publication in 1567, Arthur Golding's translation of Ovid has had an enormous influence on English literature and poetry. This is the translation that Shakespeare knew, read, and borrowed from. Golding's witty and beautiful verse continues to delight today's readers. This volume promises to be a valuable resource for students and teachers of Ovid and Shakespeare indeed, for anyone interested in the foundations of English literature.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal