The Satyricon (Warbler Classics Annotated Edition)

“The Satyricon…mocked popular culture, social dogma, and political orthodoxies, much in the snarky fashion of Saturday Night Live today.”—The New CriterionThe Satyricon is a wild and witty ancient Roman novel, believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius in the late first century AD. A satirical romp through ancient Rome, the Satyricon follows the misadventures of Encolpius, a young man with questionable morals, and his attractive teenage companion Giton. The work’s frank depictions of sexuality and social dynamics provide unparalleled insight into the underbelly of Roman society. The Satyricon stands out from other Roman texts in its use of a freewheeling mix of styles and tones, its high-brow and low-brow humor, and erotic and decadent scenes. With its episodic structure and roguish protagonists, the Satyricon is often considered an early forerunner of the picaresque novel. It laid the groundwork for later classics like Don Quixote and influenced countless other works of bawdy literature.This edition is based on W. C. Firebaugh’s complete and unexpurgated translation, which includes supplements devised by various early scholars and forgers in an attempt to round out the fragmentary story, including the risqué supplement by José Marchena, which had previously been omitted or printed only in the original Latin. (Firebaugh carefully distinguishes all these supplements from the authentic, original text.) Along with Firebaugh’s introduction and notes, this edition includes a brief timeline of the history of Latin literature.Gaius Petronius Arbiter (27–66 AD), also known as Titus Petronius Niger, was a Roman courtier and writer who lived during the reign of Emperor Nero (54–68 AD). Petronius rose to prominence in the imperial court, eventually becoming Nero’s arbiter elegantiae or “judge of elegance”—a position that made him the emperor’s trusted advisor on matters of taste and style. Petronius was known for his hedonistic lifestyle and sharp wit. His life came to a dramatic end when he was forced to commit suicide after falling out of favor with Nero.W. C. Firebaugh (1882–1945) is known for works on the history of inns and taverns and also for his fine English translation of Petronius’s Satyricon.