Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Epic Poetry / Mythology / Classical Literature / Latin Poetry

Book Review:
Ovid’s Metamorphoses (completed around AD 8) is a dazzling collection of more than 250 Greek and Roman myths, all linked by the theme of transformation. Humans change into trees, animals, stars, and rivers — Daphne becomes a laurel, Narcissus becomes a flower, Icarus falls from the sky, Orpheus descends to the underworld. Written in exquisite Latin hexameters, this epic poem spans from the creation of the world to the deification of Julius Caesar. It has inspired Shakespeare, Dante, Chaucer, Boccaccio, and generations of artists. Mary M. Innes’ translation is clear, readable, and faithful to the original. This Penguin Classics edition is the perfect introduction to a timeless masterpiece. Essential for all lovers of mythology and classical literature.