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Ars amatoria [in translation]

by Ovid

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1,6363310,666 (3.77)20
In the first century a.d., Ovid, author of the groundbreaking epic poem Metamorphoses, came under severe criticism for The Art of Love, which playfully instructed women in the art of seduction and men in the skills essential for mastering the art of romantic conquest. In this remarkable translation, James Michie breathes new life into the notorious Roman’s mock-didactic elegy. In lyrical, irreverent English, he reveals love’s timeless dilemmas and Ovid’s enduring brilliance as both poet and cultural critic.… (more)
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English (23)  Spanish (5)  Portuguese (Portugal) (1)  Italian (1)  Dutch (1)  French (1)  Swedish (1)  All languages (33)
Showing 1-5 of 23 (next | show all)
Forget agony aunts and tips on sex and love in glossy magazines - two millennia ago, Ovid had already been there and done that in his Ars Amatoria. Ostensibly a manual for would-be lovers, the Art of Love is also a witty and irreverent satire on a society obsessed with wealth and physical pleasure. In this amoral context, it is praiseworthy to be as promiscuous as possible, as long as you do not get caught out by any of your lovers, just as it is recommendable to seduce the maid to get to her mistress. Gifts are the surest way to a women's heart, Ovid cynically observes, and he suggests some presents which provide good value for money. All's fair in love and war, as long as one gets to enjoy the spoils.

Ovid's entertaining prose does tend to get bogged down in copious classical and mythological references, which is where translator Cesare Vivaldi's erudite notes come in handy. This edition presents the original Latin prose alongside an Italian translation. ( )
  JosephCamilleri | Feb 21, 2023 |
8476726309
  archivomorero | Feb 13, 2023 |
Forget agony aunts and tips on sex and love in glossy magazines - two millennia ago, Ovid had already been there and done that in his Ars Amatoria. Ostensibly a manual for would-be lovers, the Art of Love is also a witty and irreverent satire on a society obsessed with wealth and physical pleasure. In this amoral context, it is praiseworthy to be as promiscuous as possible, as long as you do not get caught out by any of your lovers, just as it is recommendable to seduce the maid to get to her mistress. Gifts are the surest way to a women's heart, Ovid cynically observes, and he suggests some presents which provide good value for money. All's fair in love and war, as long as one gets to enjoy the spoils.

Ovid's entertaining prose does tend to get bogged down in copious classical and mythological references, which is where translator Cesare Vivaldi's erudite notes come in handy. This edition presents the original Latin prose alongside an Italian translation. ( )
  JosephCamilleri | Jan 1, 2022 |

Ovidius’un Aşk Sanatı kitabı bitti. Ben kitabın aşk şiirlerinden oluştuğunu zannettiğim için kitabı okumaya başlamıştım, meğerse kitap erkeklere nasıl kız tavlanacağı hakkında tavsiyeler veren manzum bir esermiş. Durum böyle olunca 2000 yıllık bir kız tavlama kitabını okumak çok hoşuma gitti. O zamanın sosyolojik yapısı çok farklı olduğu için tavsiyelerin çoğu günümüzde uygulanamaz ama geri kalan kısmın çok faydalı olacağı su götürmez bir gerçek. Bu arada kitap 3 kısımdan oluşuyor, 1. ve 2. kısım erkeklere tavsiyeler içerirken 3. kısım ise kızlara tavsiyeler içeriyor.

Kitabın çevirisi mükemmele yakındı. Kitabın bir sayfasında orijinal metin varken diğer sayfada da çevirisi vardı. Çeviri çok iyi olduğu için orjinalini okumayı es geçtim. ( )
  Tobizume | Jun 9, 2020 |
Hilarious and scandalous. I particularly liked this translation's approach of translating the poem into couplets, that seem to translate well the playfulness of the original. Ovid was exiled for writing this poem. Turns out that the Emperor did not take kindly to Ovid's suggestions for married couples to have affairs and picking up dates at the Empress's temple, at a time the Emperor was passing laws about martial faithfulness.

The poem essentially reads like a pick up guide. Parts are hilarious, because they're both inherently funny and because it echos modern dating life. Ovid parodies the Aeneid, stating in epic terms that the most important quest is to get someone to sleep with you without giving them anything. The poem suggests going to chariot games asking women for their favorite team and then regardless of their answer, agreeing to it. Ovid complains about how a girlfriend's birthday is the worst day, because she expects gifts, and every beggar seems to crawl out of the woodwork seeking to sell their wares. Finally, Ovid suggests using flattery and empty promises to woo one's target. Parts of the book are downright dirty, and unethical. I leave a positive review clearly not because I endorse his methods but because reading Ovid is both entertaining for its raunchiness and as a window into a time that was different, but not too different from our own. ( )
  vhl219 | Jun 1, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 23 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (265 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Ovidprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Barelli, EttoreTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bornecque, HenriTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fraser, EricIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gleichen-Rußwurm, Alexander vonTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Griggs, M. J.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jarvis, MartinNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lammers, F.Illustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Malouf, DavidIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mariotti, ScevolaForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Meihuizen, J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Michie, JamesTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Moore, B. P.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Riley, Henry T.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tannhaeuser, G.Cover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tannhaeuser, G.Illustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wright, F. A.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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If there be anyone among you who is ignorant of the art of loving, let him read this poem and, having read it and acquired the knowledge it contains, let him address himself to Love.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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In the first century a.d., Ovid, author of the groundbreaking epic poem Metamorphoses, came under severe criticism for The Art of Love, which playfully instructed women in the art of seduction and men in the skills essential for mastering the art of romantic conquest. In this remarkable translation, James Michie breathes new life into the notorious Roman’s mock-didactic elegy. In lyrical, irreverent English, he reveals love’s timeless dilemmas and Ovid’s enduring brilliance as both poet and cultural critic.

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