Titus Lucretius Carus

Lucretius offers his readers a complete guide to happiness and a total tour of the universe. Even a few selections from his poetry reveal the radical freethinker at his very best. This book draws on the latest research into the text and interpretation of Lucretius. It is aimed at the sixth-former or undergraduate who seeks a helpful introduction to the poem; little background knowledge of Latin literature will be assumed. The commentary elucidates both the poetic artistry and philosophical content.

This edition, first published by BCP in 1984, is designed - with its extensive annotation and vocabulary - to provide all the help required by the comparative beginner in Latin who is coming to Lucretius for the first time. At the same time the Introduction and Commentary are full enough to incorporate material of interest to the Lucretian specialist. The first book of Lucretius claims attention not only on the strength of the famous introduction to the whole poem but because its treatment of atoms and void provides the fundamental basis on which the remaining books depend. The edition balances understanding of the philosophical subject matter with appreciation of the poetry.