The Aeneid by Virgil

Virgil’s The Aeneid is one of the greatest literary achievements of antiquity, recounting the epic journey of Aeneas, a Trojan hero destined to lay the foundations of Rome.

Fleeing the ashes of Troy, Aeneas begins an incredible journey through stormy seas, a tragic love affair, and the world of the dead. Ultimately, he reaches the promised land of Italy where, after bloody battles, he founds what will become the Roman empire.

An unsparing portrait of a man caught between love, duty, and fate, the Aeneid redefines passion, nobility, and courage for our times.

Which translation to read? Consider:
1. For readability, Robert Fagles (Penguin Classics, 2006) is contemporary and vivid without feeling casual. The narrative moves with real momentum, which helps the epic feel like a story rather than an academic exercise.
2. A close second for readability, Shadi Bartsch (Random House, 2021) is modern, elegant, and lucid, with sharp insight into the poem’s political and moral tensions.
3. If you prefer a more poetic, classical feel, consider Robert Fitzgerald (Vintage, 1983). A long‑standing standard in American classrooms, it has a slightly more elevated, traditional tone. Some readers love this; others find it a bit formal.
4. Also consider Sarah Ruden (Yale, 2008) which is highly faithful to the Latin and has an excellent scholarly introduction and notes. Ruden aims to reproduce Virgil’s tone and rhetorical effects rather than smoothing them into modern idioms.