The Aeneid of Virgil

By: Elizabeth Vandiver, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Elizabeth Vandiver

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

The Aeneid is the great national epic of ancient Rome, and one of the most important works of literature ever written. And with Professor Vandiver's twelve instructive lectures, you'll enter fully into the gripping tale that Virgil tells. Join Aeneas on his long journey west from ruined Troy to the founding of a new nation in Italy, and see how he weaves a rich network of compelling human themes. Your encounter with the Aeneid focuses on careful, detailed examinations of the epic's background, main themes, and significant episodes. You'll get a helpful introduction to Virgil's Latin epic and the mythic and literary background with which Virgil was working (including an insightful summary of the legends of the Trojan War and of Romulus and Remus). From there, you'll dive into the poem itself with lectures that, in their clarity, economy, and enthusiasm, you're sure to find illuminating and thoroughly engaging.

Throughout it all, the figure of Aeneas is never far from center stage- as fighter and lover, father and son, refugee and ruler, wanderer and founder, spellbinding storyteller, and sword-wielding man of action.

Whether you read the narrative of his adventures as a paean to the glories of Rome or a cautionary tale about the human costs of empire, by the end of these lectures you'll come to understand precisely why Tennyson called Virgil a lord of language, and lauded his special gift for golden phrase.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1999 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1999 The Great Courses

Not the book

Good analysis, but enough of the actual book. I could have used some Latin samples.

Excellent

This is an excellent course. I fully recommend it. I have not read the Aeneid and knew little about it before this course but have listened to other courses by the same author and they are always a great choice.

Definitely a Winner

The lecturer's excitement for the subject she is contagious and fun. It was very instructive. Highly recommend.

The lectures on The Aeneid of Virgil

Elizabeth Vandiver again puts out a superior series of lectures. This on the epic voyage of Aeneas from the destruction of Troy and his settling in Italy as the fates proclaimed. Including descriptions of the interactions of man and the Gods.

Absolutely outstanding

An absolutely outstanding narration of and interpretation of Virgil. I’ll listen to it again and again.

Compact, well-organized

This is a well-organized digest of the story, with historical and literary background, biographical ìnformation on the author, major literary elements, and an outline of the historical as well diverging contemporary criticism of the Aeneid, by Vergil. Professor Vandiver does a nice job. Wish there was more...

Elizabeth Vandiver is Unbeatable

Elizabeth Vandiver brings The Aeneid of Virgil to life with in-depth explanations and analysis. There is none better.

More of Coel's Notes then a Course

I bought the Aeneid reasd by Fredrick Davidson a while ago and though this might be a good go with to learn some interesting facts and look at the text critically.

Prof. Vandiver clearly has a problem - she must have been told by Great Course (similar to first students) there was no reason to believe people taking the course would (or had) read the book. A great deal of the course is therefore a summary of the event in the book. You could pretty much skip most of the book and understand what going on. Which is a shame because clearly when she REALLY talking as a professor the course she is basing this on is a comparison of Homer and Virgil. The course that she pull from sounds interesting and in gauging but you don't get much.

If you have to read the Aeneid this will help tremendously!

I listened to this to help me in a World Literature class. It gave me a huge boost in the class. Also, it explains a lot of how it refers to Homer and Roman culture. I appreciated the Aeneid more after listening to this.

rich in materials, but dry and presentation

There was a lot of good information, and some very interesting theories. There's an excellent review of Roman history pertinent to The Aeneid. if you are reading, or plan to read the poem, then this is definitely worth it. The author speaks however as if she did not have a great passion for the book. The lectures start and end abruptly. It is very matter-of-fact. This would not be a good introduction to Virgil or the Aeneid. However, if you already are interested, this is great.