The Eclogues of Vergil

H. J. Rose’s The Eclogues of Vergil, originally delivered as part of the Sather Classical Lectures, offers a lucid and engaging study of Vergil’s earliest poetry. Rather than providing a line-by-line commentary, Rose situates the Eclogues within the pastoral tradition stretching from Sophron and Theokritos to Roman adaptations, tracing how Vergil transformed Greek models into a new Latin genre. Across chapters on allegory, imitation, friendship, and setting, Rose highlights Vergil’s poetic craft, his balance of literary convention with lived experience, and the ways his pastorals reflect the political and emotional currents of the late Republic.

Written in an accessible style for both specialists and general readers, the book emphasizes the literary and cultural resonance of the Eclogues rather than technical minutiae of style and meter. Rose’s interpretive frame underscores Vergil’s pastoral vision as at once escapist and deeply rooted in the anxieties of his era, ending with reflections on the poet’s anticipation of a renewed world of peace and justice. This volume remains a touchstone for readers interested in the origins of Latin pastoral, Vergil’s artistry, and the enduring human concerns embedded in seemingly bucolic verse.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1942.