Lucretius Poet and Philosopher

Originally published in 1936, this book examines Lucretius and his philosophy by treating him as a poet first and foremost. Sikes gives a background to the Epicurean philosophy with which Lucretius is most strongly associated in order to illustrate the setting of Lucretius' poetry, and uses mostly blank verse in his translations from 'De Rerum Natura', compensating in an appendix where he translates three English poems into Latin hexameter. This book will be of value to anyone interested in Lucretius' life and works.

Preface; 1. The genius of Lucretius; 2. The art of Lucretius; 3. Epicurus; 4. Life of Lucretius; 5. General principles of the school; 6. Epicurean theology; 7. The fear of death; 8. The origin of life; 9. Lucretius and modern thought; Appendix; Index.