How does Ovid systematically engage with, reinterpret, and assert his own authority over the Homeric epics throughout his literary career? Barbara Weiden Boyd, a scholar of Latin literature, utilizes a rigorous analysis of Ovidian texts to argue that the poet does not merely imitate Homer but actively critiques and transforms Homeric narratives. By examining specific episodes and characters, Boyd illustrates how Ovid constructs a complex intertextuality that functions as both a poetics of paternity and a poetics of desire, ultimately positioning himself as a successor and rival to the Greek tradition.

Scholars recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of Ovidian intertextuality and the reception of classical epic. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a specialized resource for students and researchers of Latin literature.