The Aenid (L51)

by Virgil

366 page paperback edition of Virgil's classic tale.

Genres: Classics

360 pages, Paperback

About the author

born 15 October 70 BC
died 21 September 19 BC

Roman poet Virgil, also Vergil, originally Publius Vergilius Maro, composed the Aeneid , an epic telling after the sack of Troy of the wanderings of Aeneas.

Work of Virgil greatly influenced on western literature; in most notably Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri.

Reviews

[Davy Bennet Surf]

I have The Aenid translation by Robert Fitzgerald, which I don’t see on Goodreads.
Not a strong suit area for me.

[Aaron White]

The classic story of what happens to the warriors of Troy after the fall of their walled city in the Iliad, but composed from the perspective of later Italy. The writing, the imagery, the depiction of war and navigation and jealousy and betrayal and nobility are all glorious. It is clearly a story of how Rome (Virgil was writing at the time of Caesar Augustus) became so great and had such a divine destiny over it. As in the Iliad and the Odyssey, it is also a story of how the gods just can’t stop messing around with humans. Everyone and their cow is descended from a randy god or other, and the gods are constantly going behind each other’s back, helping their champions or hurting others, and trying to disrupt the plans of both Jupiter and any human ruler or warrior. It is very interesting to read this account just before the Christian era, and to see Roman paganism around its peak.

[Elwood]

This book was written before the invention of pretty well everything except swords and spears and ships. Not much for the author to work with except the ocean, rocks, trees, storms and emotions (mostly rage). People, all of whose names end in "..ius", are slashed and gored and decapitated on every page, by their enemies all of whose names also end in "..ius". The book ends in an ancient Mediterranean version of the American western where "suddenly a whole bunch of shots rang out and everybody fell dead."

[David Heritage]

Very good start, incredibly slow second half. Definitely worth a read as interesting look at mythology of ancient rome

[Bee Casey]

An interesting addition to classical Greek myths and tales.

Depending on your translation, it’s not always the easiest read and I’ve always found the Aenid to lack some of the charms of the epic poems they’re modelled after. But, it’s always interesting from a historical lens to see how the Romans tried to tie the Greek gods and stories into their culture, and wonder if they were based on any lost Greek epics, oral tales or completely new inventions to fuel propaganda.

It was a fun reread to visit again but one of my less enjoyed ancient tales in comparison.

[sarahi b。]

omgggg we get it rome hates women! but i give it 4 stars because of the abrupt ending :’(, but i see what you did there virgil you sly dog. really entertaining and wordy, but i love mythology so this was really good. but L roman propaganda cause that’s all what the book is. but it was done sooooooo well! 100/100 recommend

[Neko Hickey]

look I know its a classic or whatever but this was a hard read. The first half was actually quite good loved the underworld and sicily but the second half was so bad 30 names on every page that didnt come back. 2.5 out of 5

[Åsmund Heir]

Second rate Iliaden / Odysséen

[Kaden]

It’s Roman Fanfic of the Odyssey, terrible read.