The new edition by Roberts of the poems of the 6th century Latin poet Venantius Fortunatus is doubly welcome: firstly, as representing the first complete translation into English of the latter’s occasional poetry; secondly, as forming an invaluable companion-piece to Roberts’ earlier The Humblest Sparrow. While it has become a commonplace to view Fortunatus as the link between late antique and medieval poetics, the recognition of his importance continues to grow in tandem with the critical re-evaluation of late antique aesthetics and the blurring of boundaries between late antique and early medieval. The appearance, therefore, of a comprehensive edition readily accessible to English-speaking readers is particularly timely.
The readability and clarity of Roberts’ translation provides an excellent jumping-off point for academics and general readers alike, with this edition both comprising an invaluable resource for the present and representing a milestone for future scholarship.
Gillian Knight
Exemplaria Classica
