Description
Book SynopsisDrawing on many years of teaching Ovid’s
Metamorphoses, Gareth Williams offers a brisk and lively reading of the poem that emphasizes why it speaks in compelling ways to a twenty-first-century audience. He shows how the
Metamorphoses is not just a colorful collection of stories about change but an exploration of change itself.
Trade ReviewSmart close readings abound, and Williams’s punchy analyses make the book fun to read, though they never obscure his mastery of the subject. * Publishers Weekly *
The perfect sidekick to accompany readers on their journey through Ovid’s epic—whether approaching the
Metamorphoses for the very first time or revisiting this ever-changing kaleidoscope of a poem. -- Genevieve Liveley, author of
Ovid’s Metamorphoses:
A Reader’s GuideLucid, insightful, and lively, this book offers compelling new interpretations of Ovid that speak to current issues such as fake news, deceptive speech, sexual violence, gender inequity, and strategies of resistance within an autocracy. These are serious themes, but Williams adopts some of Ovid’s own wit and psychological nuance, providing an accessible and intellectually exciting approach to the
Metamorphoses. -- Carole E. Newlands, author of
Playing with Time: Ovid and the Fasti
This is a wonderful book. It offers an introduction to Ovid's
Metamorphoses and the life of the poet, guiding the reader through some of the epic’s most memorable moments. The primary pleasure of the book is to read about a great poem through the words of a sensitive and experienced teacher, who wears his erudition very lightly. The writing frequently sparkles, with contemporary allusions and wicked puns throughout. -- James Uden, Boston University
The book is full of lively and provocative readings of Ovid’s greatest work, careening through its changing tales and tales about change to portray a work which, having endured throughout the two millennia since its composition, find a deep resonance even in—or especially in—the 2020s. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
A delightful volume....highly recommended. * Choice *
Table of ContentsPreface
Introduction
1. Diversity, Idiosyncrasy, and Self-Discovery in the
Metamorphoses2.The Liabilities of Language: Change and Instability in Ovid’s World of Words
3. The Path of Deviance: Sexual Morality and the Incestuous Urge in the
Metamorphoses4. Rough Justice: Victimization, Revenge, and Divine Punishment in the
MetamorphosesEpilogue
Further Reading
Index
