Virgil and the Augustan Reception

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The book explores the ideological interpretations of Virgil's work over two millennia, highlighting the complex relationship between his poetry and Emperor Augustus. It analyzes ancient poets and grammarians' varied perspectives, Dryden's Royalist translation, and American interpretations. The study also critiques nineteenth-century philology's alterations and examines readings influenced by fascism and National Socialism. Ultimately, it reveals how different eras have shaped the Aeneid to align with their optimistic views of Virgil.