I was not amazed by The Aeneid. I think that it pales is comparison to the Greek epics that it is mimicking, and the only thing that saves it from being a total waste of literary time is the addition of the chapter on the Fury that is unleashed on the city. To be honest, I'm just not sure that I can stomach reading the Fitzgerald translation; for some reason, I feel like there are better words than "Poseidon's car" that could have been used. It is poetic, and the language is sometimes incredibly inspiring, but that still doesn't pull me away from the fact that it could be so much better. ( )

A classic

After reading Fagles’ Iliad and Odyssey I thought Aeneid could not match it. Though I like the Greek epics better, some scenes in the Aeneid more than hold their own and might surpass those of its predecessor. For example, the siege of Troy, Dido in Carthage, and the battle for Italy.

Aeneas does not have a distinctive animating character of an Achilles or an Odysseus. It seems as if Virgil, in endeavoring to create the ideal Roman, was afraid to add any character traits other than devotion to his men, fear of the gods, and pity for his vanquished enemies lest other character traits have a bad side. Indeed because of this, the ending, where pity for a vanquished foe and love for his fallen men come to a violent collision, is the most startling and human moment for Aeneas. It took a while but I am glad because it cracked (slightly) the troubling sheen of propanganda around Aeneas and made him join the more human supporting cast of Dido, Turnus, and Pallas and others.

Though I cannot compare it with the Latin, Fagles’ English is refreshing in its usage of expressions not often in modern literature as well as a modern vernacular that does not seem forced but natural. The writing in battle is sizzling; the pastoral metaphors are deliberate; and much is left pleasingly strange. Though long introductions of soldiers and their fathers and other descriptions lessen the pace for this modern reader, it was definitely worth plowing through to the moving and riveting parts. If you are interested in epic stories or ancient history, you should read this translation.

Translated this from Latin. Destiny is a key component of this book, and the length characters go to fulfill destiny is what makes this a worthwhile read. ( )

The Roman equivalent to The Odyssey and a classic. Unlike The Odyssey, this drags a little, especially in the middle. ( )