The Satires, Epistles, and Art of Poetry of Horace (eBook)

Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known internationally as Horace, is one of the towering figures in Roman literature. Born on December 8, 65 BCE in Venusia in Southern Italy, he came of age during Rome's tumultuous transition from Republic to Empire. Horace was the son of a freedman and progressed from modest beginnings to become one of the leading poets of his time, enjoying the patronage of Maecenas, a confidant and minister to Emperor Augustus. His body of work includes 'The Satires, Epistles, and Art of Poetry of Horace,' which continue to be central texts for the study of classical literature and the culture of the early Roman empire. Although varied in form and topic, Horace's oeuvre is marked by its perspicacious wit, ethical seriousness, and an adroit melding of Greek literary form with the Roman spirit. His 'Ars Poetica,' or 'The Art of Poetry,' offers invaluable insights into the poet's craft and has influenced literary criticism for centuries. As a lyric poet, his 'Odes' and 'Epodes' are masterful explorations of human emotions, politics, and philosophy, employing both subtle humor and deep introspection. Horace's works remain essential reading for their artistic elegance and their commentary on human nature, and his maxims and aphorisms, such as 'carpe diem,' continue to resonate throughout Western culture.