Horace's Odes are among the most popular and the most misunderstood of ancient writings. In this new paperback edition, the authors discuss each ode against its Greek and Roman background to ensure a clearer understanding of its classical and scholarly nature. The commentary includes a large number of parallel passages--showing how Horace plays new variations on old themes--sections on chronology and meter, and a select bibliography for each ode.

This Commentary takes critical account of recent writing on the Odes. It deals with detailed questions of interpretation, and shows how Horace combined the tact of a court-poet with a humane individualism, and how he wrote within a literary tradition without losing a highly personal voice. Though the book is not intended for beginners, the editors aim throughout at clarity.