The first translation of Ovid’s epic poem by two women—Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri and Classicist Yelena Baraz—brings innovative energy and striking vision to one of the greatest literary works of all time
Daphne and Apollo. Echo and Narcissus. Daedalus and Icarus. These are among the foundational Greco-Roman myths, driven by themes of transformation, that come to life most famously in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. A cultural touchstone since its conception, Metamorphoses speaks to us today more than ever for its portrayal of power dynamics, shifting identity, and a world constantly under threat.
Now, this bold, free-verse translation releases the riverine flow and galloping pace of Ovid’s poetry. Contemporary language and an undulating graphic composition propel readers from one unforgettable story to the next. In pairing a creative writer with a scholar, this translation is at once free-spirited and closely bound to Ovid’s kaleidoscopic Latin text. Baraz and Lahiri draw out Ovid’s attention to moments of psychological nuance, to the passage of time, to border crossings and to fluid states of being. And by centering the experience of Ovid’s women, they reframe complex questions of violence, gender, and body autonomy for a new generation of readers.
Inviting to both a first-time audience and long-time lovers of Ovid, this dynamic, formally inventive translation reminds us that Ovid’s Metamorphoses is a work of perpetual relevance and breathtaking sweep.
