Publius Ovidius Naso Libri

Il titolo di questa originale opera di Ovidio Eroine, sembra assegnare alla donna, appoggiandosi al mito e alla leggenda, un tipo di eroismo alternativo a quello che i maschi conquistano sul campo di battaglia o nelle prove di forza: l'amore. L'amato, l'amante, lo sposo sono lontani e lo strazio della separazione, fatale o voluta, è il motivo sotteso delle "lettere" che Ovidio immagina scritte da queste donne appassionate, interamente votate alla causa di un sentimento su cui si misura la loro identità.

«La contiguità tra dèi ed esseri umani è uno dei temi dominanti delle Metamorfosi, ma non è che un caso particolare della continuità tra tutte le figure e forme dell'esistente, antropomorfe o meno. Fauna, flora, regno minerale, firmamento inglobano nella loro comune sostanza ciò che usiamo considerare umano come insieme di qualità corporee e psicologiche e morali [...] le Metamorfosi vogliono rappresentare l'insieme del raccontabile tramandato dalla letteratura con tutta la forza d'immagini e di significati che esso convoglia, senza decidere - secondo l'ambiguità propriamente mitica - tra le chiavi di lettura possibili». Italo Calvino

"Ovid's Metamorphoses is the original source for classical mythology. Combining the best-known versions of tales from Icarus to Medusa, Ovid's epic compendium of Greco-Roman legend has exerted an influence on European art and culture rivaled only by the Bible. Yet despite it being the magnum opus of Rome's cleverest and most creative poet, centuries of conservative translators have robbed the poem of its subversive force as a book-length exploration of power, where heroes are drained of their heroism, victims are given their say, and the earth is always holier than heaven. Coming at a political moment singularly resonant with Ovid's sympathy toward the oppressed, this boldly poetic translation matches Ovid's style while incorporating the latest scholarship on a work equal parts canonical and revisionist. Complete with annotations, glossary, and illustrations, this edition will bring fresh insights to both returning readers and those encountering the poem for the first time"--

Since it first appeared in 1961 this has been the standard critical edition of Ovid's love poems. For this new edition the text has been thoroughly revised to take account of published scholarship and the further thoughts of the editor. Conjectures have been admitted to both text and apparatuscriticus more freely than in the first edition. Punctuation has been improved, spelling has been normalized, and the long poems have been paragraphed. The apparatus criticus now incorporates the reading of the important Berlin manuscript Hamilton 471; it has also been streamlined by the omission ofexplanatory material more conveniently accessible in commentaries.

Montaigne reflects on his early love for literature, sparked by the fables in Ovid's Metamorphoses. At a young age, he found joy in reading these stories, as they resonated with his mother tongue and were suitable for his youthful understanding. This personal narrative highlights the profound impact of literature on his childhood and the formative role it played in shaping his appreciation for storytelling.

Metamorphoses , the best-known poem by one of the wittiest poets of classical antiquity, takes as its theme change and transformation, as illustrated by Greco-Roman myth and legend. Melville's new translation reproduces the grace and fluency of Ovid's style, and its modern idiom offers a fresh understanding of Ovid's unique and elusive vision of reality.

The myths of Metamorphoses have inspired generations of writers, including Shakespeare. Over two thousand years later, they are reimagined for our world by three leading British playwrights, and feature anarchy, shape-shifting and a burning chariot of fire.