Horace: Poems; Edited by Paul Quarrie (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series)

The poetry of Horace still resonates deeply in western culture. His Odes and Epodes have been translated into English by literary luminaries such as John Milton, Ben Jonson, Lord Byron, Samuel Johnson, Sir Philip Sidney, Alexander Pope, John Dryden and A.E. Housman. His instruction "Carpe Diem" or seize the day has always been strongly influential with its common sense sentiment that is a combination of traditional Roman strength and stoicism in the face of adversity.Horace's poetry is unusually malleable in English translation. Augustan heroic couplets as shaped by Dryden and Pope have a directness that matches the forcefulness of Horace's poetry. In the hands of a master of blank verse like John Milton, however, the beauty of the Latin original as translated into English has a liquid, sinuous ease that envelops the reader in sentiments that project a powerful emotional depth. And the translations of a Latin scholar and skilled poet like Housman yield something entirely different and less obvious: poetry that shines with the kind of static ancient beauty that Keats suggests in his Ode on a Grecian Urn. The fact that so many diverse sentiments can be suggested by different poets through different ages is a testament to the sophistication of Horace's verse.This lovely miniature volume of Horace's poetry, a new exemplar of the beauty of the Everyman's Library Pocket Poets series, as edited by Paul Quarrie has a well-chosen selection from the entire landscape of Horace's poetry. Throughout the book there are superb illustrations from the edition of Horace published in London by Johannes Pine in 1737. Their marmoreal solidity has a remoteness that suggests the vast passage of time separating a modern audience from the Latin original. It is precisely the appropriate detail I would expect from the Everyman's series of books. With its thick, creamy white paper, dark green cloth cover and matching silk place marker and its sturdy illustrated dust cover, this superb miniature volume of Horace in English translation is an exemplary introduction to his poetry.

It's hard to wrap your head around just how ancient these poems are. It's even more difficult to comprehend how contemporary much of his poetic vision remains, the joie de vivre, his love of springtime, or beautiful women, not to mention his intellectual grasp of Greco-Roman literature. It's a testament to how well loved his poetic vision has remained thru the millennia, that so much of his work was not lost. In fact, the most famous people in English history have been translating his verse, since the dawn of the English Language. This little book is filled with Horace's vision. A healthy feast is set before you from all four books of the Odes, the Epodes, his Satires, Epistles, and Ars Poetica (his longest poem, though, like the other selections, only represented in part here). For the most part, I'd say anyone with a healthy love of poetry, would enjoy Horace's work. At times the classical illusions obscure his sense. Other times the overt, nationalistic propaganda celebrating Caesar's victory's tastes odd. However, roman virtues and civic duty were part of his life, and therefore his vision. The satires aren't satirical, as much as vignettes of his daily life, almost like journal entries in rhyme and meter. The one about the country mouse and the city mouse, hasn't aged bad. When Horace talks about losing one's youth, or the beauty of spring, his words are celestial diamonds that will shine til humanity falls to sleep for good.The translations run the gamut, from Queen Elizabeth I, to Ezra Pound, from Milton to Robert Lowell. Since some of these translations are in such antiquated English, you might find yourself translating the verse twice. At times, the lack of modernization for the spelling is annoying. Ben Johnson's take on "INTERMISSA VENUS" (Ode IV, 1) was practically like reading Chaucer in Middle English. Ode I, 5 (the one about the golden hair of Pyrrha), is represented in translation twice. First by Milton, then a modern translation by Duff Cooper. As much as I love Milton, his translation was so dense and stilted, that I couldn't penetrate into the beauty of Horace. The only real way to read any poet, is in the original. In this book, you have poets writing poems based on Horace. Their skills as translators, and as poets, color what you read. Unless you've had years of Latin, and a solid education in classic literature, these translations will be as close as you can come to Horace's voice. Since there are no footnotes to elucidate the vague passages, I'd recommend having your Google up and running, if you need to grasp every literary illusion.Finally, a word on the hardback book itself. I have another EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY pocket edition. Like the other book, this edition is hardback, good quality paper, sewn in binding, and includes a book mark ribbon. Unlike "PARIS STORIES", this book is slightly smaller. Nevertheless, the artwork is fine, and the selection of poems inclusive enough, so you can truly know this intellectual giant of the classical world. Best of all, the quality of the printing and binding will allow your progeny access to this book as well.

Horace was one of Rome's ancient master poets. In my opinion, one of the greatest poets of the past two and a half millennia. His words flow like a river; they roll off the tongue with ease when verbalized. Paul Quarrie has done a remarkable job in putting together this collection from a variety of translators (including such dignitaries as Lord Byron, William Cowper, Ezra Pound, William Gladstone, Robert Lowell, John Milton, and a host of others). This edition comes with tasteful illustrations scattered throughout the book.Now, a few words about the book itself. First,let me say that I collect books published by Everyman's Library and have always been a huge fan of their look, feel, and durable binding. This particular book was printed and bound in Germany by GGP Media. As with other volumes of the EL series, this book is bound in a gorgeous yellow cloth cover. It's important to distinguish between a mere "hardcover," which is usually just a cover made of paper-covered cardboard, and a cloth cover book. A cloth cover is just that - a hardbound book with cloth, actual fabric, over the covers. This kind of cover is old school, reminiscent of the great bookbinders of yesteryear. This volume has a gorgeous green cover (of course!). The book block itself is sewn, not glued, Again, this is an old school way of binding a book to last. And that's the point! Everyman's Library is a collection meant to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Over the cloth covers, this book comes with a tasteful dust jacket. I must also mention that this volume comes with a green ribbon marker.The paper used in this volume is exceptionally nice. It is thick, opaque, creamy. At retail (Amazon's price is even better!), this book is a steal. You can purchase a wonderfully made cloth bound book for less than many paperbacks.

Contains translations of Horace's Odes and excerpts from his other works. The selection draws on the work of a very wide range of poets and translators, including in modern times Ezra Pound and WS Merwin and in earlier times Samuel Johnson, Milton and Queen Elizabeth I.My feeling was that the famous poets did by some margin the best - but that might just be finding what I expect to find. I felt overall just a little underwhelmed by the experience of reading so many poems on the same themes. But the collection has a clear value and interest.

This beautiful little pocket size Everyman book is a delight as an object. It contains English verse translations of Horace's Odes from C16th onwards.