Horace : A Very Short Introduction

Oxford Very Short Introductions

Horace was one of the greatest poets during the reign of Augustus; knowledge of his poetry has long been considered a mark of cultural sophistication. This Very Short Introduction examines how Horace's poetry has exerted enormous influence but argues that it is best understood within the traditions of ancient literature.

Llewelyn Morgan guides the reader through the dizzying twists and turns of Horace's biography, which reflect the political and social instability of the period. His poetry, and the life he artfully constructs and presents to us in it, engages with both the greatest crisis that Rome had ever faced and its resolution by the first emperor. Horace is Rome's laureate, and through him we experience the anxieties and triumphs of his age. For posterity, Horace has served for a model of the good life, a promoter of enlightened retirement, but has also exemplified poetic artistry, and is the most creative manipulator of the Latin language, even among his remarkable contemporaries.