Fall 2008 - The Johns Hopkins University Press

The Odes of Horacetranslated by Jeffrey H. Kaimowitzintroduction by Ronnie AnconaThis groundbreaking new translation of Horace’s mostwidely read collection of poetry is rendered in modern,metrical English verse rather than the more common freeverse translations. Jeffrey H. Kaimowitz adapts the Romanpoet’s rich and metrically varied poetry to English formalverse, reproducing the works in a way that maintains fidelityto the tone, timbre, and style of the originals while conformingto the rules of English prosody. Each poem is trueto the sense and aesthetic pleasure of the Latin and carrieswith it the dignity, concision, and movement characteristicof Horace’s writing.Kaimowitz presents each translation with annotations, providingthe context necessary for understanding and enjoyingHorace’s work. He also comments on textual instabilityand explains how he constructed his verse renditions tomirror Horatian Latin.Horace and The Odes are introduced in lively fashion bynoted classicist Ronnie Ancona.Jeffrey H. KaimOWITz has a Ph.D. in classics with a specialtyin Roman poetry and is the head librarian of the WatkinsonLibrary at Trinity College, Connecticut. He has published anumber of translations as well as articles relating to classicsand publishing in the Renaissance.October 192 pages 6 x 9Johns Hopkins New Translations from Antiquity978-0-8018-8995-0 0-8018-8995-2 $50.00(s) / £27.00 hc978-0-8018-8996-7 0-8018-8996-0 $25.00(s) / £14.00 pbAncient StudiesThe Death and Afterlife of AchillesJonathan S. BurgessAchilles’ death—by an arrow shot through the vulnerableheel of the otherwise invincible mythic hero—was as wellknown in antiquity as the rest of the history of the TrojanWar. However, this important event was not described directlyin either of the great Homeric epics, the Iliad and theOdyssey. Noted classics scholar Jonathan S. Burgess traces thestory of Achilles as represented in other ancient sources inorder to offer a deeper understanding of the death and afterlifeof the celebrated Greek warrior.Through close readings of additional literary sources andanalysis of ancient artwork, such as vase paintings, Burgessuncovers rich accounts of Achilles’ death, as well as alternativeversions of his afterlife. Taking a Neoanalytical approach,Burgess is able to trace the influence of these parallel culturalsources on Homer’s composition of the Iliad.With his keen, original analysis of hitherto untapped literary,iconographical, and archaeological sources, Burgessadds greatly to our understanding of this archetypal tragichero.“Brilliant . . . shows a thorough understanding of Homeric poetryin the larger context of ancient epic traditions . . . Burgess has acommanding international reputation as a leading expert in thesetraditions. This book is a vital new contribution to our understandingof the relationship between Cyclic and Homeric poetry.”—Gregory Nagy, Harvard UniversityJonathan S. BurgESS is an associate professor of classics atthe University of Toronto and author of The Tradition ofthe Trojan War in Homer and the Epic Cycle, also published byJohns Hopkins.January 192 pages 6 x 9 23 halftones, 3 line drawings978-0-8018-9029-1 0-8018-9029-2 $45.00(s ) / £24.00 hcAncient StudiesTHE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS www.press.jhu.edu 42