Statius: Silvae

In this delightful homage to the now unfashionable Neapolitan poet, two contemporary poets who share a fascination with his work present their selection of fresh versions from his best-known collection. In their introductions they explore the background to his work and the qualities, literary and human, which drew them to him. Publius Papinius Statius (c. 45-96 AD) was a prize-winning poet whose reputation remained high until well into the Middle Ages. He featured both in Chaucer’s House of Fame (as Stace’) and in Dante’s Divine Comedy, where he is called il dolce poeta’. Anthony Howell, born in 1945, is well known as a performance artist and as poet. He has published eleven collections of poetry, several - including his Selected Poems (2000) and Dancers in Daylight (2003) - with Anvil, as well as a novel and other prose works. Bill Shepherd, born in 1935, is a therapeutic counsellor. His Horace: The Complete Odes and Epodes and Propertius: The Poems were published as Penguin Classics in the 1980s. Several collections of his poetry have appeared, including three from Anvil. His most recent is Mother’s Milk (Menard, 2006).

Publius Papinius Statius (circa 45-96 A.D) was born in Naples. He was a prize-winning poet who won the poetry prize at the Augustalia and three times at the Alban Games. His reputation remained high until well into the Middle Ages. He featured both in Chaucer’s House of Fame (as ＂Stace＂) and in Dante’s Divine Comedy, where he is called ＂il dolce poeta.＂
Bill Shepherd was born in 1935 and educated at Cambridge. Before retiring he worked in industry. His excellent classical credentials were established by his critically acclaimed translations, Horace: The Complete Odes and Epodes, and Propertius: The Poems, both published as Penguin Classics. Anvil has published three collections of his verse: Sun, Oak, Almond, I (1970), Evidences (1980), and Self-Love (1983). Anthony Howell was born in 1945. A former dancer with the Royal Ballet, he is respected as a performance artist. He founded the Theatre of Mistakes in the 1970s; touring successfully in France, the UK and the US. He has published eleven collections of poetry, several with Anvil, as well as a novel, and an edition of The Selected Poems of Nicholas Lafitte.