Tales from Ovid - Hardcover

Hughes, Ted

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 057117759X ISBN 13: 9780571177592

Publisher: Faber and Faber, 1997

Synopsis

Hughes's three contributions to the anthology "After Ovid" an accurate account of the original so thoroughly imbued with his own qualities that it was as if Latin and English poet were somehow the same person. This volume continues the project, with 24 passages including the stories of Phaeton, Actaon, Echo and Narcissus, Procne and Midas.

About this title

Review

England's poet laureate Ted Hughes first turned his hand to Ovid's Metamorphoses when he--along with other prominent English-language poets such as Seamus Heaney, Amy Clampitt and Charles Simic-- contributed poems to the anthology After Ovid. In the three years following After Ovid's publication, Hughes continued working with the Metamorphoses, eventually completing the 24 translations collected here. Culling from 250 original tales, Hughes has chosen some of the most violent and disturbing narratives Ovid wrote, including the stories of Echo and Narcissus, Bacchus and Pentheus, and Semele's rape by Jove. Classical purists may be offended at the occasional liberties Hughes takes with Ovid's words, but no one will quarrel with the force and originality of Hughes's verse, or with its narrative skill. This translation is an unusual triumph--a work informed by the passion and wit of Ovid, yet suffused with Hughes's own distinctive poetic sensibility.

Review

"Brilliantly succeeds at bringing Ovid's passionate and disturbing stories to life."--James Shapiro, " The New York Times Book Review"
"One of the few unquestionable successes in the revolutionary vein Pound opened at the start of the century."--Donald Lyons, "The Wall Street Journal"
"Hughes is as broad as Ovid and as subtle, as violent and as erotic, as elegant and as folksy-and often all at the same time. It is simply a beautiful match."--Michael Hofmann, "The Times "(London)

Brilliantly succeeds at bringing Ovid's passionate and disturbing stories to life. "James Shapiro, The New York Times Book Review"

One of the few unquestionable successes in the revolutionary vein Pound opened at the start of the century. "Donald Lyons, The Wall Street Journal"

Hughes is as broad as Ovid and as subtle, as violent and as erotic, as elegant and as folksy-and often all at the same time. It is simply a beautiful match. "Michael Hofmann, The Times (London)""

Brilliantly succeeds at bringing Ovid's passionate and disturbing stories to life. James Shapiro, The New York Times Book Review

One of the few unquestionable successes in the revolutionary vein Pound opened at the start of the century. Donald Lyons, The Wall Street Journal

Hughes is as broad as Ovid and as subtle, as violent and as erotic, as elegant and as folksy-and often all at the same time. It is simply a beautiful match. Michael Hofmann, The Times (London)

"

"Brilliantly succeeds at bringing Ovid's passionate and disturbing stories to life." --James Shapiro, The New York Times Book Review

"One of the few unquestionable successes in the revolutionary vein Pound opened at the start of the century." --Donald Lyons, The Wall Street Journal

"Hughes is as broad as Ovid and as subtle, as violent and as erotic, as elegant and as folksy-and often all at the same time. It is simply a beautiful match." --Michael Hofmann, The Times (London)

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 057117759X
• ISBN 13: 9780571177592
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256