The Story of Æneas

Virgil, Henry S. Salt (Translator)

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Published: 1928
• Length: 304
• Format: Hardback

Summary

The Story of Æneas: Virgil’s Æneid Translated into English Verse by Henry S. Salt presents the legendary tale of Æneas, the Trojan hero who journeys from the ruins of Troy to establish a new home in Italy, all while navigating the tug-of-war between personal longing and a grander destiny. Salt deftly captures the essence of Virgil’s epic, bringing to life the mythological grandeur and psychological depth that define this Roman masterpiece.

Divided into two parts—echoing Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad—the Æneid traces Æneas’s trials, his love for the doomed Dido, and his ultimate confrontation with Turnus, which seals the fate of a people. Salt’s verse preserves the rich, stately rhythm of the original Latin while offering an accessible and poetic English rendering. With a special sensitivity to Virgil’s timeless exploration of duty, sacrifice, and imperial destiny, Salt highlights the modern relevance of these ancient themes.

A labour of love, Salt’s translation stands as a testament to his reverence for Virgil, ensuring that the poet’s wisdom and beauty endure for new generations of readers. Whether you are a classicist or a lover of epic literature, Salt’s The Story of Æneas will transport you to the mythic landscapes of Rome’s founding legends.

The book is dedicated to G. Bernard Shaw.

Reviews

• Virgilâ’s Aeneid The Guardian, November 27, 1928
• Some Verse Translations The Classical Review, May, 1928
• The Story of Aeneas: Virgil’s Aeneid Times Literary Supplement, January 24, 1929