Why read The Art of Love?

Book cover of The Art of Love

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" . . . Humphries has rendered (Ovid's) love poetry with conspicuous success into English which is neither obtrusively colloquial nor awkwardly antique." -Virginia Quarterly Review

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Poetry

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Art of Love as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Daisy Dunn

Author

This is my ancient choice. The most notorious of Ovid’s poetry books, the Ars Amatoria, as it was known in Latin, provides an eye-popping view of what was considered permissible by certain individuals in Rome. The poet provides plenty of tips for the would-be lover, from how to get a date at the races, to how to communicate privately with someone across the dinner table. It’s a useful and readable source – even if the modern reader can find little to praise in Ovid’s outlook.

From Daisy's list on love and sex in ancient rome.