The Poems of Catullus Translated and with an introduction by Peter Whigham.
 
Catullus (c. 84 - 54 B.C.), one of the most lyrical and passionate poets of any age, found his inspiration in the glittering Roman society of the late Republic.
There he met and fell in love with the Lesbia of these poems - a love which brought him ecstasy, pain and disillusionment.
 
But Catullus is more than a love poet: whether he is lamenting a dead brother, eulogizing his beloved yacht, or satirizing his acquaintances, his sincerity is apparent. His style has a colloquial ring and he is a master of the pungent epigram: in addition he often shows a genius for natural description.
 
The cover shows a portrait of Artemidorus, from Hawara, Egypt, second century (British Museum)