Oeuvres d’Horace en Latin et en Francois, avec des Remarques Critiques et Historiques

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by Horace

Oeuvres d'Horace
George Wythe bookplate.jpg
Title not held by The Wolf Law Library
at the College of William & Mary.
 
Author Horace
Editor
Translator André Dacier
Published :
Date
Edition Precise edition unknown
Language
Volumes 10 volume set
Pages
Desc. 8vo


Born to a wealthy family in Apulia, Italy, in 65 B.C.E., Horace studied philosophy and literature in Athens before becoming an officer in Brutus’ army.[1] After leaving the army and losing his family’s fortune, Horace went to Rome, where he worked as a clerk at the Treasury and started writing poetry.[2]

In 29 B.C. Horace published Epodes, his first book of poetry, before publishing a four-part series of books called Odes in 23 B.C and the poem Ars Poetica sometime before his death in 8 B.C.E.[3] Remembered for its plain but witty style, Horace’s poetry covers a wide range of topics, from drinking with friends to political musings on the fate of the Roman Empire as it recovered from years of civil war.[4] Several of Horace’s poems are addressed to dignitaries and political figures, including Emperor Augustus and senators, about subjects such as patriotism, ethics, and honor.[5] Horace encouraged writers to “read widely, to strive for precision, and to find the best criticism” and he was a wide influence on several eighteenth-century poets, including Alexander Pope.[6] His ability to simply express difficult ideas, and his political, ethical, and social commentary on the Roman Empire, have influenced great thinkers and leaders for two millennia.

This version of Horace's poems, translated by noted French classicist André Dacier, features parallel Latin and French text and includes the translator's notes.

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "Horace de Dacier. Lat. Fr. 10.v. 8vo." and given by Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes. Brown's Bibliography[7] suggests the 1709 Paris duodecimo edition of Œuvres d'Horace en Latin et en François, avec des Remarques Critiques et Historiques. George Wythe's Library[8] on LibraryThing indicates "Precise edition unknown." As yet, the Wolf Law Library has been unable to procure a copy of Dacier's edition of Oeuvres d’Horace.

See also

References

  1. The American Academy of Poets, s.v. “Horace," accessed October 3, 2013, http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/331
  2. Ibid.
  3. Poetry Foundation, s.v. “Horace,” accessed October 3, 2013, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/horace
  4. Ibid.
  5. Ibid.
  6. The American Academy of Poets, s.v. “Horace.”
  7. Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433.
  8. LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013.