This week’s Sunday Read is one of my all time favorite books, Ovid’s Metamorphoses. I originally picked this up for a Mythology and Literature class, along with The Thebaid and The Argonautika along with several other Greek and Roman mythology novels. This one was easily my favorite.
If you’re interested in Greek/Roman mythology than this is one novel that I can guarantee you won’t want to miss. It contains 15 different books. And in each of these books are multiple stories, with over 100 tales of the gods and goddesses, and often the stories are weaved into each other. For instance, Minerva telling the tale of Prosperpina–a story within a story.
The language that Ovid uses (or at least the translation) is stunning. It’s very poetic, and wonderful descriptions abound. I would definitely recommend reading it aloud if possible. Themes of love and transformation abound, and are easily something which any reader can relate. Loyalty, Betrayal, and Fate are all evident in the work. You’ll also see where some other writers got their inspiration — the story of Pyramus and Thisbe is simply an older Romeo and Juliet.
I would fully recommend this novel (as one of my favorites, I would hope thats obvious). It’s a worthwhile read that leaves the reader with plenty of food for thought. And if you’re interested in Greek/Roman mythology, I definitely feel that this is the novel to pick up. It can be purchased here on Amazon, where I have linked the the same translation although the format of the novel is slightly different. You could also head to a used or local bookstore and pick up a copy there.
Literature & Lace 