Review by Choice Review
In this elegant work, Reyes (Groton School) provides the remaining fragments of Lewis's translation of Virgil's Aeneid. Reyes argues that the Aeneid is the link that unites Lewis's life as Christian apologist and his career as professor of English literature. Lewis first encountered Virgil as a schoolboy, and came to see the Aeneid as so central to his own life as a Christian scholar that he undertook to translate the epic. It was unfinished at his death in 1963. Lewis was as critical of allegorical readings of the Aeneid that neglect the literal meaning as he was of modern readers' inability to read the work on its own terms: "Far better for a reader simply to engage the Aeneid itself and appreciate the range of different emotions, reflections, and attitudes' that the poet presents." For Lewis, the best readers "never commit the error of trying to munch whipped cream as if it were venison." Providing the Latin text alongside Lewis's translation, and copious notes, commentary, and explanation, this volume offers unique insights on Virgil, the Aeneid, the epic tradition, the mind and work habits of Lewis, and the relationship between translation and art. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. D. Pesta University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Author of the hugely popular Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis's literary endeavors include poetry, essays, novels, criticism, and translation. His take on Virgil's Aeneid, "his favourite of all books," serves to further enrich the legacy of this ambitious and prolific writer. A scholarly preface by D.O. Ross studies the style and "flow'' of Virgil's poetic diction, emphasizing Lewis's admirable conviction that translations of such extravagant verse, where form and content are equally as important, should not be compromised by classicism, but balanced in delivery. Sadly unfinished due to Lewis's sudden passing in 1963, the narrative is seamlessly bolstered by editor Reyes. Diary entries and letters trace Lewis's fervent (though intermittent) revisions of the epic poem, his affinity for which is evident in his assessment of other translations-whether hostile or reverent. Presented with Latin and English side-by-side, tacit grammatical alterations and the editorial decision to forego footnotes make for a particularly successful text. An extensive glossary is provided instead, helping to clarify historical and mythological references. Reyes underscores Lewis's veneration for Virgil's Aeneid, justifying his mantra that "what matters above all is the story and the language in which it is told." (May) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
