Three Classical Poets: Sappho, Catullus, and Juvenal

by Richard Jenkyns

In this engaging essay Richard Jenkyns shows us how to read three quite different ancient poets. In a close and sensitive reading of Sappho, Catullus, and Juvenal, Jenkyns delineates the uniqueness of the poet's individual voice in relation to poetic traditions. His book constitutes a challenge to the view that one method will suffice for the interpretation of ancient poetry. He seeks to demonstrate that we can have no substitute for flexible and humane judgment, liberated from critical dogma, if we are to understand the great writers of the past. It is Jenkyns' appealing habit to clarify and illustrate his points by drawing analogies from modern and ancient literature. He deploys his wide learning with agility and grace.

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Richard Jenkyns is emeritus Professor of the Classical Tradition and the Public Orator at the University of Oxford. His books include Virgil's Experience and Victorians and Ancient Greece, acclaimed as "masterly" by History Today.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like classical poetry but usually don’t understand it, so this book helped me a lot

loved sapho’s chapter; catullus’ part was okay but i haven’t read Peleus and Thetis so i was a bit lost; i don’t like much Juvenal so i skipped the last 20 pages of his chapter