The Poems of Catullus

From an award-winning translator, a new dual-language translation of poems by Catullus, the Roman poet and punk, the lover and hater, the hedonist and wretch, famous for his contradictions, on friendship, sympathy, love and sex, and notably, diatribes against enemies.

In his short life, the Roman aristocrat Catullus (84-54 B.C.E) wrote only a single book of poetry. But in it lies some of the most raw and forceful depictions of the vagaries of human emotion to be produced in the ancient world. In the 113 poems featured in this edition, Catullus’ lyricism is equally as romantic as it is violent, capable of capturing the fleeting moments of a burgeoning romance and the cold despondence of its dissolution. McCarter’s new translation animates the colorful lyricism of Catullus, a poet who deftly ensconced readers in the extremes of emotion: from tender admiration of friends to the bitter scorn of foes, from unbridled passion between lovers to religious fanaticism for Gods. Unlike past editions, McCarter’s translation considers the nuances of sexuality and gender in Ancient Rome and features translations tailored to a broader American audience. This edition also includes facing Latin text, ideal for any academic study of Catullus, as well as a general introduction, suggestions for further readings, and endnotes.