Ausonius

"Despite the resurgence of interest in the field of late antiquity, there are still too few authors from the period available in translation-and of the few who are translated, most, like Ausonius, are available only in arcane and unreadable English. Ausonius is one of the more accessible late antique writers, and Slavitt's choice of texts to translate reflects his accessibility-the Cento gives us a taste of Ausonius's bizarre sense of humor, and the Commemorations gives us a glimpse into his personal network of friends, teachers, and relatives, and into the everyday life of a wealthy provincial city. Slavitt's translations are simple, direct, often very funny, and sometimes moving. His Cento is a tour de force recreation."—Martha Malamud, editor, Arethusa

"Slavitt has such an easy, tolerant, believable relationship with the ancient world and its authors that making the changeover from that world to ours is less a leap than an enjoyable stroll. The reader feels a continual sense of gratitude."—poet and novelist James Dickey