The Collected Works of Virgil (eBook)

Publius Vergilius Maro, more commonly known as Virgil (70 BCE - 19 BCE), stands among the most eminent figures in the pantheon of Western literature. Born in the pastoral landscapes near Mantua, in what is now northern Italy, his literary craft harmoniously weaves together the Hellenic traditions with the emerging Roman spirit. Virgil's early pastoral poems, collected as the 'Eclogues,' reveal his mastery in depicting rustic life and its idealized simplicity. His subsequent work, the 'Georgics,' elevates agricultural toil to philosophical heights and is marked by an intricate blend of technical detail and poetic allegory. However, Virgil's magnum opus, the 'Aeneid,' remains his unparalleled contribution to world literature. This epic poem traces the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan destined to found Rome, intertwining mythic history with the Augustan political narrative and establishing an enduring Roman identity. Virgil's works, epitomized in 'The Collected Works of Virgil,' exhibit an exquisite command of language, a deep appreciation for mythology, and an influential commitment to national epic poetry. His style harmoniously blends Homeric influence with Roman national pride, thereby generating an enduring legacy which profoundly shaped Latin literature and Western literary tradition.