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On the Nature of the Universe Bk1
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On the Nature of the Universe Bk1

by Lucretius

Translated and introduced by Emma Gee

Lucretius' On the Nature of the Universe Bk 1 was written around 55BCE, towards the end of the Roman Republic. Lucretius was unusual, though not alone, in his startlingly modern world view which encompassed Epicurean philosophy, a knowledge of physics and a belief that religion was intrinsically evil and an instrument of social control. The translation of Book 1 of his magnum opus is equally modern — Emma Gee plays with the Latin, retaining its linguistic and sonic effects whilst drastically re-orientating the poem towards modernity. Translated with the first-time reader in mind, this version of Lucretius will captivate and astound those with no experience of Latin or of poetry, and bring Lucretius and his ideas to life.

Emma Gee’s De rerum natura (On the
Nature of the Universe) is a revelation.
With a scholar’s eye and a poet’s heart,
she penetrates to the core of Lucretius’
often overlooked, sometimes diffi cult,
scientifi c epic to recover its stark
beauty and disruptive force. Like any
classic translation, Gee’s poems work
sometimes startling transformations
on Lucretius’ complex cosmology while
still remaining true to the essence of his
verse. Outstanding, astounding, here
is a version for our times, excavating
the hidden truths at the centre of our
universe to prove that poetry is always
as essential as science.”

JOSEPHINE BALMER

ISBN 1908376 08 4 (pbk) / 1908376 06 1 (ebk)
138 x 216 120 pages £11.99
Published October 2020

» About Lucretius

This recording is by way of a book launch for <i>On the Nature of the Universe Bk 1</i>, by Lucretius, which was published during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. With thanks to Jean Boase-Beier and Emma Gee for reading from, and discussing, the book.

» Video: This recording is by way of a book launch for On the Nature of the Universe Bk 1, by Lucretius, which was published during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. With thanks to Jean Boase-Beier and Emma Gee for reading from, and discussing, the book.