Author:Virgil,Guy Lee

Haunting and enigmatic, Virgil's Eclogues combined a Greek literary form with scenes from contemporary Roman life to create a work that inspired a whole European tradition of pastoral poetry. For despite their rustic setting and the beauty of their phrasing, the poems in Virgil's first collection are also grounded in reality. Shepherds are overwhelmed by the torments of poetic love - but they must also endure such real-life events as the tragic consequences of Julius Caesar's murder in 44 bc and a civil war. In giving unforgettable expression to the disasters of the day through poetry, the Eclogues paved the way for the Georgics and the Aeneid, the two greatest works of Latin literature, and are also a major masterpiece in their own right.
Perfect holiday reading... Daft and...delicious... the Wu Ming clan have pulled off [a] coup... Their blend of outrageous burlesque and offbeat satire sparkles like a bottle of the best prosecco from a worker's-co-op vineyard...as many contented readers will notice this summer
—— Boyd Tonkin , IndependentA sprawling epic... A formidable feat of imagination that moves restlessly between Bologna, Naples, California, Moscow, Dubrovnik and Marseilles... Utterly convincing'
—— The TimesA stupendous, charming, provocative and profound novel. It makes most modern books seem paltry in comparison
—— Scotland on SundayA kaleidoscopic epic...beautifully handled
—— Independent on Sunday''54 is a huge slab of sheer pleasure: a thriller with laughs, a crime comedy, a surreal romance, a ripping adventure. Real-life stars drop into the books global plot that draws in a cast of thousands. Ace
—— Sunday SportThis diverting post-modernist entertainment...is skilled in teasing fact and fiction
—— Guardian






