Pindar has for centuries been the least understood and appreciated of the great classical poets, for the type of composition by which he is now chiefly represent--the ode written on commission to praise a victorious athlete--does not seem to fit our notions of what a lyric poem should be. This book by D.S. Carne-Ross sets out to recover Pindar as a vital presence in the Western tradition. Through critical discussion, comparison with more familiar poets past and present, and selective translation, Carne-Ross demonstrates the craftsmanship and beauty of a Pindaric ode.
The first chapter...