Civil War [Paperback]

A magnificent new translation of the enduring epic about the sundering of the Roman Republic.

Lucan lived from 39-65 AD at a time of great turbulence in Rome. His Civil War portrays two of the most colorful and powerful figures of the age-Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, enemies in a vicious struggle for power that severed bloodlines and began the transformation of Roman civilization. With Right locked in combat with Might, law and order broke down and the anarchic violence that resulted left its mark on the Roman people forever, paving the way for the imperial monarchy. Accessible and modern yet loyal to the rhetorical brilliance of the original, this will be the definitive Civil War of our times.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.“Matthew Fox’s new translation of Lucan’s poem, together with the introduction, notes, and glossary he co-authored with Ethan Adams, is most welcome. His translation gives us a new look at the poem, and the ancillary materials provide a general audience with necessary social, historical, and literary information…readers will find Fox’s spirited, fastpaced rendering a pleasure.” —Jane Wilson Joyce,The New Republic

"I was deeply impressed. It is not just another translation: it has a special intensity and vibe, and I am recommending it to whoever teaches Lucan and also to people interested in contemporary translations of poetry. The quality of the footnotes and summaries is alsol!