--- product_id: 228148 title: "The Metamorphoses Of Ovid" price: "£21.97" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/228148-the-metamorphoses-of-ovid store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # The Metamorphoses Of Ovid **Price:** £21.97 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Metamorphoses Of Ovid - **How much does it cost?** £21.97 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/228148-the-metamorphoses-of-ovid) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Through National Book Award-winning translator Allen Mandelbaum's poetic artistry, this gloriously entertaining achievement of literature — classical myths filtered through the worldly and far from reverent sensibility of the Roman poet Ovid — is revealed anew. Savage and sophisticated, mischievious and majestic, witty and wicked, The Metamorphoses weaves together every major mythological story to display a dazzling array of miraculous changes, from the time chaos is transformed into order at the moment of creation, to the time when the soul of Julius Caeser is turned into a star and set in the heavens. In its earthiness, its psychological acuity, this classic work continues to speak over the centuries to our time. "Reading Mandelbaum's extraordinary translation, one imagines Ovid in his darkest moods with the heart of Baudelaire...Brilliant."—Booklist Review: The myth is beautiful. There must have been hundreds of characters - I've attempted one other translation of Metamorphoses, but I came right back to Mendelbaum's. There was something missing in the very first pages of the other one, but this version carries you, as Ovid would have appreciated, seamlessly through this highly political Roman appropriation of Greek myth and history. The myth is beautiful. There must have been hundreds of characters, god and mortal alike, forced into crises and transformed in moments of untenable lust, rage, or just plain foolishness. I particularly enjoyed the huntress stories, and it was very cool to read Pyrahmus and Thisbe, the myth that inspired Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The political elements of this, however, are tedious. Apotheosizing Caesar feels like that moment in a movie when the lead actor breaks out a can of Pepsi. I imagine this was both a patriotic and practical gesture for one of his patrons, even though the guy would return the favor later by exiling him. If I could go back in time, I'd ask him to replace the political chapters with one called "Nice Guys Finish on an Island." Review: Good Translation! Maybe Don't Order Used if it Matters - I did research and the consensus was that this is the most accurate translation of Ovid's original "Metamorphoses," and from what I can tell, it really is! I'd say if you can decode Shakespeare, you'll probably be able to figure out this book pretty well. I ordered used and had a bit of trouble with the external seller, but I think that ordering new wouldn't have caused any issues. For the content and thickness of the book, I'd say the price is very reasonable! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #148,150 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #102 in Ancient & Classical Poetry #191 in Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy #198 in Epic Poetry (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 245 Reviews | ## Images ![The Metamorphoses Of Ovid - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/912KnR8NPOL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The myth is beautiful. There must have been hundreds of characters *by L***Z on February 24, 2017* I've attempted one other translation of Metamorphoses, but I came right back to Mendelbaum's. There was something missing in the very first pages of the other one, but this version carries you, as Ovid would have appreciated, seamlessly through this highly political Roman appropriation of Greek myth and history. The myth is beautiful. There must have been hundreds of characters, god and mortal alike, forced into crises and transformed in moments of untenable lust, rage, or just plain foolishness. I particularly enjoyed the huntress stories, and it was very cool to read Pyrahmus and Thisbe, the myth that inspired Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The political elements of this, however, are tedious. Apotheosizing Caesar feels like that moment in a movie when the lead actor breaks out a can of Pepsi. I imagine this was both a patriotic and practical gesture for one of his patrons, even though the guy would return the favor later by exiling him. If I could go back in time, I'd ask him to replace the political chapters with one called "Nice Guys Finish on an Island." ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Translation! Maybe Don't Order Used if it Matters *by K***A on August 16, 2025* I did research and the consensus was that this is the most accurate translation of Ovid's original "Metamorphoses," and from what I can tell, it really is! I'd say if you can decode Shakespeare, you'll probably be able to figure out this book pretty well. I ordered used and had a bit of trouble with the external seller, but I think that ordering new wouldn't have caused any issues. For the content and thickness of the book, I'd say the price is very reasonable! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ovid in poetic form *by S***R on July 9, 2013* I am very pleased with this translation of Ovid's "Metamorphoses." Although I cannot compare it with the original Latin, the language reads smoothly and pleasantly. I have been pairing reading it with another version available in Kindle format (Martin translation, Norton edition) and with a prose version. This is my favorite of the three, although I sometimes find it easier to read the prose version of a particular tale first. I like the listing on the cover page of each book of the tales contained within that section -- and the use of lines to separate lines of the text in accordance with the beginnings and endings of those myths. My copy came from an external supplier and was in like-new condition, albeit perhaps with the paper a little yellowed. I am accompanying reading this with Hamilton's "Mythology" and some of the writings of Joseph Campbell and Roberto Calasso. Myths are so integral to literature that there is a special pleasure in spending some time with them from time to time. It is always surprising to discover the nuances and the contexts within which they have been captured, rather like a winged bee or dragonfly in amber. Ovid's versions stress metamorphoses and shape-changing, rather than static symbols. His light, playful, sometimes cynical touch makes him generally a delight to read, although one can still get bogged down in names and relationships, as well as transitions from one story to another. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/228148-the-metamorphoses-of-ovid](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/228148-the-metamorphoses-of-ovid) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-01*