Written during the reign of nero, lucans civil war was arguably the last great epic poem written in antiquity at least in the west. Head of department of classics and ancient history and university lecturer susan h braund. Ultimately, braund argues that the best hypothesis is that lucans original intent was a 12 book poem, mirroring the length of the aeneid. The cruel and exacting caesar is witnessed here like nowhere else in literature. Lucan s latin epic, the civil war also known as the pharsalia, must stand as a contender for the weirdest and craziest epic poem of all time. Buy civil war worlds classics book online at low prices. His civil war portrays two of the most colorful and powerful figures of the agejulius caesar and pompey the great, enemies in a vicious. Civil war is the only surviving work of lucan, a roman writer from the 1st century.
Most renters respond to questions in 48 hours or less. Braunds anxiously shall i frequent the cliffs and foxs ill cling to the crags, afflicted lack the same impact. I recommend reading the introduction below first, then reading through the. Civil war oxford worlds classics 9780199540686 by lucan and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Jun 08, 2008 there are not many translations of lucan s civil war, sometimes titled pharsalia. The poet lucan 3965 ad was the nephew and student of the stoic. Lucan s epic poem, civil war, portrays the stark, dark horror of the years 49 through 48 bce, the grim reality of romans fighting romans, of julius caesar vs. Catos speech on stoic philosophy from lucans the civil war quotations from the translation by susan h. Braund overview lucan s epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of virgil and ovid in the first rank of latin epic. The epic poem by the roman poet and prose writer on the civil war between caesar and pompey. Mar 07, 2012 lucan apparently wrote the first three books of his epic before he fell out of favor with nero, and so theres been a lot of dispute over whether the praise of nero at the beginning of the poem is sincere. Civil war by lucan, 9780199540686, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Lucan was born into a prominent roman family seneca the elder was his grandfather, and seneca the younger his uncle, and seems to have befriended the young emperor nero at an early age. Lucans epic poem, civil war, portrays the stark, dark horror of the years 49 through 48 bce, the grim reality of romans fighting romans, of julius caesar vs.
Lucans pharsalia or, civil war, as many scholars now prefer to call it was written approximately a century after the events it chronicles took place. Susan h braunds translation of lucans civil war is a great translation. Allusions to the epic poets virgil and lucan in the writing of the roman historian tacitus c. On the civil war, more commonly referred to as the pharsalia, is a roman epic poem written by the poet lucan, detailing the civil war between julius. The great roman poet lucan is considered one of the most important latin poets of all time. The poem as we have it is unfinished nero ordered lucan to commit suicide at the age of 25, but whats left is a fairly.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Lucan s epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of virgil and ovid in the first rank of latin epic. Civil war by lucan abebooks abebooks shop for books. Even as the poem bemoans the awfulness of the roman civil war, lucan says that still, the reward of nero made all that horror worthwhile.
When lucan outlines the prelude to civil war in book 1, he highlights the two. There are not many translations of lucan s civil war, sometimes titled pharsalia. For the student of roman history, lucan s civil war. Braund, head of department of classics and ancient history and university lecturer, exeter university. Written during the reign of nero, lucans civil war was arguably the last great epic poem written in antiquity at least in the. Civil war brilliantly comments on violence, politics, and sacrifice. Waggish david auerbach on literature, tech, film, etc. Loeb classical library founded by james loeb 1911 edited by jeffrey henderson. Lucan s pharsalia or, civil war, as many scholars now prefer to call it was written approximately a century after the events it chronicles took place. Braunds anxiously shall i frequent the cliffs and foxs ill cling to the crags.
The introduction sets the scene for the reader unfamiliar with lucan and explores his relationship with earlier writers of latin epic, and his interest in the sensational. Civil war also known as the pharsalia must stand as a contender for the weirdest and craziest epic poem of all time. This newly annotated, free verse translation conveys the full force of lucan s writing and his grimly realistic view of the subject. The introduction to this volume situates lucan as a poet closely connected with the stoics at rome, working during the reign of the emperor nero, in the genre inherited from virgil. This translation in free verse conveys the full force of lucans writing, and his grimly. Buy civil war books online at best prices in india by susan h.
Civil war oxford worlds classics kindle edition by. The great civil war led to the downfall of the roman republic and the establishment of the roman empire. His civil war portrays two of the most colorful and powerful figures of the agejulius caesar and pompey the great, enemies in a vicious struggle for power that severed bloodlines and began the transformation of roman civilization. Nonetheless it is a great epic that is quite different from the others. Civil war by lucan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Pompey, denying the wind his sails, was being rowed towards the accursed shore, when that little twinoared boat drew alongside carrying its murderous crew. Buy civil war worlds classics book online at low prices in. Lucan s civil war is a work from the time of nero and is incomplete due to the authors death. Braund overview lucans epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of virgil and ovid in the first rank of latin epic.
James duff duff, on the other hand, argues that lucan was dealing with roman history and with fairly recent events. Lucans epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of virgil and ovid in the first rank of latin epic. Loeb classical library founded by james loeb 1911 edited by jeffrey. Buy civil war online of indias largest online book store, only genuine products. Catos speech on stoic philosophy from lucans the civil war. The work is a powerful condemnation of civil war, emphasizing the stark, dark horror of. Aug 21, 2015 written in the reign of nerothe emperor against whom lucan was implicated in a conspiracy and by whom he was compelled to commit suicide at the age of 25the poets dark, ambiguous, unfinished masterpiece focuses on the disintegration of the roman body politic and the war between julius caesar and pompey that ultimately lead to the end of the roman republic. Feigning to welcome him to egypt, they bid him step from the stern of his tall vessel. Lucans civil war is a work from the time of nero and is incomplete due to the authors death. The worlds classics 1992 paperback further commentary resources will be available via pdfs here on canvas. Civil war ebook by lucan 9781101575000 rakuten kobo. Lucan lived from 3965 ad at a time of great turbulence in rome. Braund overview lucans epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of virgil and ovid in the first.
The neronian poet lucan describes a ritual circumambulation of the city that may be the amburbium, though the account could also be a fictional composite. Lucans epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished. According to susanna braund, by choosing to not focus on the gods, lucan emphasizes and underscores the human role in the atrocities of the roman civil war. Oxford university press, 1992 verse translation, introduction, notes. This monograph argues that tacitus fashions himself as a rivaling literary successor to these poets. His masterful epic pharsalia, or civil war chronicles the dynamic battle between julius caesar. Lucan s clear and energetic verse brings one of the most important wars in history to life. His masterful epic pharsalia, or civil war chronicles the dynamic battle between julius caesar and pompey the great. Susan h braund s translation of lucan s civil war is a great translation. There are not many translations of lucans civil war, sometimes titled pharsalia.
Written in the reign of nerothe emperor against whom lucan was implicated in a conspiracy and by whom he was compelled to commit suicide at the age of 25the poets dark. May 08, 2008 there are not many translations of lucan s civil war, sometimes titled pharsalia. This new translation in free verse conveys the full force of lucans writing and his grimly realistic view of the subject. Lucan translated with introduction and notes by susan h.
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