Author Description

Are you fascinated by the Aeneid, puzzled by the poetry of Catullus, or intrigued by Ovid's mythic transformations? Whether you're a student, a teacher, or a lifelong learner, Aeneas in the Underworld and Other Essays offers a deeply informed yet highly readable guide through some of Latin literature's greatest masterpieces. In this engaging and scholarly collection, Stephen Barber, a longtime student of English and Latin literature, addresses the questions that many readers have and comes up with some new and surprising answers. Could the fall of Troy have been prevented? Was Dido right to claim she was married to Aeneas? What did Aeneas actually learn from his descent into the underworld? Is the love between Encolpius and Giton in the Satyricon more than parody? Can Virgil's Fourth Eclogue still be read as a prophecy of Christ? Reading classical texts through the lens of modern literary criticism, Barber examines works by Virgil, Ovid, Horace, Catullus, Juvenal, Petronius, and Apuleius. These essays balance close textual analysis with wider mythic and historical context. Throughout, Barber is unafraid to question scholarly consensus and offers compelling alternative interpretations - always with clarity, sensitivity, and a deep respect for the texts. He also gives a remarkably frank treatment of sexuality and sexual practices in the ancient world. If you love Latin literature, this book will help you love it more deeply. And if you've never studied it but are curious about why these ancient stories still matter, Aeneas in the Underworld and Other Essays is the perfect place to begin.