Books by Propertius

Edited with Introduction and Notes by W. A. Camps

In this edition of Propertius Book IV, Camps follows the general lines of his earlier edition of Book I (Cambridge, 1960).

Of all the great classical love poets, Propertius is surely one of those with most immediate appeal for the twentieth century reader. His poetry centres on a helpless infatuation for the sinister figure of his mistress, Cynthia, and it is analysed with a tormented but witty grandeur in all its changing moods - from ecstasy to suicidal despair.

Camps presents, without concealing difficulties and uncertainties, a fairly conservative but readable and coherent text, together with such annotation as may help the modern reader of Latin to understand the language and follow the thought of this difficult, much disputed, but very rewarding poet.

Propertius' fourth book is his most challenging and innovative. It disrupts genre; dislocates time and order; and meditates on gender, perception and history. This detailed commentary, with introduction and new text, provides much new material for approaching this important work. Both students and scholars will find it valuable.