Author Description

There is in The Aeneid one "voice" that Vergil wishes us to hear, what may be called the epic voice, not shocking in tone and substance, even patriotic and inspiriting. But there are in addition "further voices" which Vergil incorporates into his great epic, and these may be disturbing, even shocking, as they add to, comment upon, question, and occasionally subvert the implications of the epic voice. This book provides the first in-depth analysis of these "further voices," illuminating with unusual clarity Vergil's method of composition and yielding an intimate glimpse into the working of his mind. Lyne has translated all Latin quotes, making the book accessible to readers with little or no knowledge of classical languages.