--- product_id: 9522581 title: "The Metamorphoses: Introduction by J. C. McKeown (Everyman's Library Classics Series)" price: "£40.82" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/9522581-the-metamorphoses-introduction-by-j-c-mckeown-everymans-library-classics store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # The Metamorphoses: Introduction by J. C. McKeown (Everyman's Library Classics Series) **Price:** £40.82 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Metamorphoses: Introduction by J. C. McKeown (Everyman's Library Classics Series) - **How much does it cost?** £40.82 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/9522581-the-metamorphoses-introduction-by-j-c-mckeown-everymans-library-classics) ## 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 Ovid’s famous mock epic—a treasury of myth and magic that is one of the greatest literary works of classical antiquity—is rendered into fluidly poetic English by world-renowned translator Allen Mandelbaum. Roman poet Ovid’s dazzling cycle of tales begins with the creation of the world and ends with the deification of Caesar Augustus. In between is a glorious panoply of the most famous myths and legends of the ancient Greek and Roman world—from Echo’s passion for Narcissus to Pygmalion’s living statue, from Perseus’s defeat of Medusa to the fall of Troy. Retold with Ovid’s irreverent flair, these tales are united by the theme of metamorphosis, as men and women are rendered alien to themselves, turned variously to flowers, trees, animals, and stones. The closest thing to a central character is love itself—a confounding, transforming, irrational force that makes fools of gods and mortals alike. The poem’s playful verses, both sensually earthy and wittily sophisticated, have reverberated through the centuries, inspiring countless artists and writers from Shakespeare to the present. Frequently translated, imitated, and adapted, The Metamorphoses has lost none of its power to provoke and entertain. 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! ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #245,064 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #71 in Ancient & Classical Poetry #5,491 in Classic Literature & Fiction #11,955 in Literary Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 245 Reviews | ## Images ![The Metamorphoses: Introduction by J. C. McKeown (Everyman's Library Classics Series) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71hwE1ibLcL.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. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Metamorphoses: Introduction by J. C. McKeown (Everyman's Library Classics Series) - Plato: Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo (Hackett Classics) - Office Of Assertion: An Art Of Rhetoric For Academic Essay --- ## 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/9522581-the-metamorphoses-introduction-by-j-c-mckeown-everymans-library-classics](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/9522581-the-metamorphoses-introduction-by-j-c-mckeown-everymans-library-classics) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-14*