There is also the Penguin Classics version of The Aeneid translated by Robert Fagles which surprisingly isn't mentioned in this video, and it also has the best introductory essay by Bernard Knox.

Having had to live with translating the Aeneid over the course of a school year, I can second the opinion that much of the beauty is entirely to do with the Latin. Otherwise, it’s a national epic, and none of us are ancient Romans. The best English translation that I have found is Allan Mandelbaum’s.

Bring back the Daily Penguin! 😭

When I worked with translating The Aeneid in my Latin classes, I had such a love-hate relationship with him! I was constantly torn between wishing he’d burned it all before he died and wishing he’d made it longer. It was work but occasionally, there would be a passage that sung and made me lament the death of Latin. I think you must be right that working with his Latin gives you an appreciation that some translations can’t. Another excellent edition to this series!

So far what I’m taking from these videos is that I should learn to read Latin 😂. Thanks for your thoughts on Virgil! Enjoying this series so much.

I'm happy to hear your thoughts on this. Virgil has never spoken to me, I've read two translations that have left me flat. Just last year I bought the David Ferry translation which I still haven't read. Thank you,

I found the Virgil Penguin classic Odyssey quite readable, even if English isn't your native language. Thanks for making those videos, love the daily 🐧! 🙂

For my Latin exam we studied 300 lines of Virgil's Aeneid from the start of book 2. My mother got me the prose version of the translation in Penguin Classics and I remember being so disappointed. The Latin verse is complex but stunning and multilayered even for a 14 / 15 year old boy in Yorkshire and it was when I realised the weakness of Penguin Classics and verse translation. As a result swore off Penguin Classics verse translation.

I tried to read the Aeniad last year and I got about 3/4 of the way through, but I got distracted by other books. I wasn't hating it, but it was definitely a chore to read. Like you said, Dido was the only character with any humanity and once she was gone I wasn't really interested in anyone else. But I'll try again this year, probably with another translation.

Yes Aeneas is a stick of wood. That made me laugh.

Would that I could read Latin!! There are odd and clever little bits and pieces of Virgil’s earlier two works that have stuck with me just as much as his grandest efforts in the Aeneid - he’s a funny little writer, frenemy is the perfect word

I’ve become addicted to readings lately, especially old classics, which I don’t think is normal for a 19 year old

Well, you inspired me to film again--this time about Virgil...

It’s honestly validating to learn that you’re not a huge fan of Virgil. I liked some of the Eclogues and the episode with Dido in the Aeneid as well as book 6 (mostly because of its connection to Dante’s Commedia), but on the whole I find him pretty dull. It was very interesting to get your take on Virgil. I’ve honestly been curious what you think of Virgil for a long time!

I just read an article that said some German media company is about to become the sole owner of Penguin. I'm feeling a little nervous about that. Do you have any thoughts?

Poor old Romans. Steve doesn't want them to have a shiny national epic foundation story. But I will concede that being written deliberately for this purpose makes it less fun for us to read.

Kafka wanted his stuff burnt, and in his case I think he meant it. Not a poet, strictly speaking, but a great artist. As for Virgil...well, he got off a real humdinger of a "human-hearted" phrase when he wrote "lacrimae rerum". He redeemed a lot of his sins with that one. I used to have the Loeb bilingual editions (little red books) of lots of the Romans, Virgil, Livy, Cicero, Sallust, Caesar and others. When I was a kid I could read (a little ) Latin but now...I can just recognize a lot of familiar words. And all my little red Loebs have been long gone from me for decades. But in those days I really loved the idea of reading the ancients in at least one of their own languages. It seemed like getting on a magic carpet and being taken from this boring world to something that appeared so much better. Now, when I think of Rome I want to run screaming.