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Why Virgil Matters: Reading the Aeneid Today with Dr. Joseph Luzzi

Why Virgil Matters: Reading the Aeneid Today with Dr. Joseph Luzzi


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Two millennia after it was composed, Virgil’s Aeneid remains one of the most influential and remarkable works in Western literature. In this lecture, Joseph Luzzi, the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College, delves into what makes Virgil’s great work “tick.” This ancient poem that recounts the myth of how the Roman empire was founded is still relevant today, Luzzi says. He explores the brilliant formal and thematic qualities that give the Aeneid its unusual force and explains how it continues—as well as departs from—the storyline of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

Joseph Luzzi received his Ph.D. from Yale University and is a Professor of Comparative Literature and Faculty Member in Italian Studies at Bard College, where he has taught since 2002 after being a visiting faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania. A frequent contributor to publications including the New York Times, TLS, and Chronicle of Higher Education, he is the author of 5 books, including "My Two Italies," a New York Times Editors' Choice selection and "In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love," a Vanity Fair “Must-Read” selection. His work has been translated into multiple languages and his many awards include a Yale College Teaching Prize, Dante Society of America Essay Prize, and Wallace Fellowship at Villa I Tatti, Harvard's Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. In 2017 he was named Cittadino Onorario/Honorary Citizen in Acri, Calabria, his Italian parents' birthplace. His next book is "Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance," which will be published by W. W. Norton. Professor Luzzi is the founder of the Virtual Book Club, an online community of readers dedicated to exploring some of the best books ever written. Learn more at JosephLuzzi.com.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

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Sharla Robbins (Norman, US)
Fascinating!

Dr. Lizzie kept this presentation relevant, interesting, and thought-provoking. The level of intellect and casual presentation was well-balanced. I will definitely attend Dr. Luzzi’s presentations in the future!

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Sharla Robbins (Norman, US)
Fascinating!

Dr. Lizzie kept this presentation relevant, interesting, and thought-provoking. The level of intellect and casual presentation was well-balanced. I will definitely attend Dr. Luzzi’s presentations in the future!