Johns Hopkins University Press Thebaid

Charles Stanley Ross offers a compelling version of the Thebaid in assertive, modern English. Casting Statius's Latin hexameter into a lively iambic pentameter more natural to the modern ear, Ross frees the work from the archaic formality that has marred previous translations. His translation reinvigorates the Thebaid as a whole: its meditative first half and its violent second half; its intimate portrayal of defeat, retribution, and the need to seek justice at any cost. In a wide-ranging introduction, Ross provides an overview of the poem: its composition, reception, and legacy; its major themes and literary influences; and its place in Statius's life. And in a helpful series of notes, he offers background information on the major characters and incidents.