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The works of Horace

Horace

914 pages

A timeless invitation to pour a glass of wine, retreat to the countryside, and ponder the fleeting, beautiful nature of a well-lived life.

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What it feels like

Reading this collection feels like sitting in a sun-drenched courtyard with an old, incredibly articulate friend who has seen the world and decided that a quiet farm and a good cup of wine are all that truly matter. The pace is decidedly leisurely, inviting you to linger over meticulously balanced lines that shift effortlessly from wry, urbane satire of city life to profound, melancholic reflections on mortality. It is a deeply convivial and philosophical reading experience, steeped in the golden light of the Italian countryside. The emotional texture is one of gentle moderation and hard-won serenity, urging the reader to seize the day. It will thoroughly delight lovers of classical antiquity, stoic philosophy, and anyone seeking a poetic sanctuary from the relentless rush of modern life.

Mood
  • sun-warmed
  • contemplative
  • convivial
  • pastoral
Tone
  • wry
  • philosophical
  • urbane
  • conversational
  • didactic
Pace
leisurely
Themes
the golden mean · the fleeting nature of time · pleasures of friendship and wine · city versus country life · the enduring power of art
The writing
Elegant, meticulously crafted, and balanced, yet possessing a deceptively effortless and conversational grace.
The arc
Moves from sharp, witty observations of bustling society to a serene, philosophical acceptance of mortality and the simple joys of life.
Who it's for
Readers who appreciate classical antiquity, philosophical poetry, and quiet reflections on how to live a good, moderate life.
Content notes
  • alcohol consumption
  • references to mortality

About the book

Latin and English texts on facing pages.

Vol. 1: xxxi, [1], 287 p.; v.2: [2], 302, [2] p.; v.3: [2], xiv, 291 p.; v.4: [2]. 297, [2] p.

Signatures: v.1: A−b-−sp8 −b-−ssb−b-−sp8 −b-−ssB-T−b-−sp8−b-−ss; v. 2: [A]−b-−sp2 −b-−ssB-U−b-−sp8−b-−ss; v. 3: pi−b-−sp2 −b-−ssa−b-−sp8-1 −b-−ss(-a8?) B-T−b-−sp8 −b-−ssU−b-−sp2−b-−ss; v. 4: [A]−b-−sp2 −b-−ssB-T−b-−sp8 −b-−ssU−b-−sp6−b-−ss.

On terminal leaf of v.2 and v.4 an advertisement: Proposals for printing by subscription, a colleciton of miscellaneous poems, by Christopher Smart.

Kletch, E., Quintus Horatius Flaccus, editions in the U.S. and Canada, 716

NUC pre-1956 254:539

Description from Open Library.

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