This volume provides a new edition and English translation of the Latin Ovidius moralizatus (or Moralized Ovid), one of the most influential moralizing interpretations of Ovid’s Metamorphoses of the medieval period. Composed by the French writer and preacher Pierre Bersuire in 1340 and reworked over the subsequent two decades, the Moralized Ovid is also a work that has received little sustained attention until recent years, owing to its complex textual history and the absence of a critical edition. With this publication, Frank Coulson and Justin Haynes provide scholars with an invaluable resource to discover and engage with this fascinating text.
The Latin text and English translation, presented on facing pages, occupy the bulk of the volume, making Bersuire’s renderings of ancient myths, intended for use in medieval preaching, readily accessible. The translation is clear and flows well, while still remaining close to the Latin in terms of structure and style. To sum up, this handsome volume contains not only a work of major importance, but a wealth of pertinent insights into the reception of Ovid in the Middle Ages and beyond.
Laura Endress
Speculum
Read Full Article >>
