by A. T. Reyes
First published 2019
A. T. Reyes opens with the dramatic moment when fragments of C. S. Lewis's translation of Virgil's Aeneid were saved from flames. The renowned author of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters had undertaken this ambitious project, rendering the ancient Roman epic into English verse. Reyes traces his detective work to locate and organize the surviving pieces of Lewis's lyrical translation. The book presents these fragments alongside Virgil's original Latin text, making the classical work accessible to modern readers. Reyes provides summaries of missing sections and includes a glossary to guide readers through the epic tale of Aeneas, the Trojan hero who journeyed to Italy and founded the Roman lineage. Lewis's deep appreciation for Virgil's first century BC masterwork shines through his translation work. This volume reveals an unknown dimension of Lewis's literary talents while preserving a remarkable scholarly achievement that nearly vanished forever.
Genres: biography, classics, historical-fiction, academic
Vibes: emotional, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, literary-adaptation
Setting: Italy, Rome, Troy
Period: 1st-century-bc, 20th-century
184 pages · Paperback · Yale University Press