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Quick answer: If you read the Aeneid, read Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, then Ovid's Metamorphoses, Ursula Le Guin's Lavinia, Madeline Miller's Circe and Beowulf. All are epics and retellings of heroes, wars and the founding of nations.
Virgil's Aeneid, written between 29 and 19 BCE, follows Aeneas as he flees the fall of Troy and travels to Italy to found the line that will become Rome, with a doomed love affair with Dido along the way. It is stately, tragic and a foundation of Western literature. The books below offer related epics, myths and modern retellings.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Iliad | Homer | Adult | war and rage |
| The Odyssey | Homer | Adult | the great journey |
| Metamorphoses | Ovid | Adult | myths of change |
| Argonautica | Apollonius of Rhodes | Adult | Jason's quest |
| The Oresteia | Aeschylus | Adult | Greek tragedy |
| Lavinia | Ursula K. Le Guin | Adult | Aeneid retold |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | witch of the Odyssey |
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | Adult | Trojan War |
| A Thousand Ships | Natalie Haynes | Adult | women of Troy |
| The Penelopiad | Margaret Atwood | Adult | wit and rage |
| Beowulf | Anonymous | Adult | Anglo-Saxon epic |
| Mythology | Edith Hamilton | Adult | classic guide |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | Adult | witty myths |
| I, Claudius | Robert Graves | Adult | Roman palace intrigue |
| Gates of Fire | Steven Pressfield | Adult | Thermopylae |
1. The Iliad by Homer
The wrath of Achilles during the Trojan War. A foundation of war literature.
Best for: war and rage.
2. The Odyssey by Homer
Odysseus struggles to return home after the war. Adventurous and humane.
Best for: the great journey.
3. Metamorphoses by Ovid
A playful collection of transformations. A source for countless later stories.
Best for: myths of change.
4. Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes
Jason and the Argonauts seek the Golden Fleece. Adventurous and elegant.
Best for: Jason's quest.
5. The Oresteia by Aeschylus
The ancient trilogy of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and Orestes. Powerful and dark.
Best for: Greek tragedy.
6. Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
A princess in Virgil's story tells her own side. Calm and beautiful.
Best for: Aeneid retold.
7. Circe by Madeline Miller
The goddess Circe tells her story from exile to power. Lush and thoughtful.
Best for: witch of the Odyssey.
8. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Patroclus tells the story of his love for Achilles. Lyrical and heartbreaking.
Best for: Trojan War.
9. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The women of the Trojan War tell their own stories. Witty and sharp.
Best for: women of Troy.
10. The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Penelope tells the Odyssey from the underworld. Short and sharp.
Best for: wit and rage.
11. Beowulf by Anonymous
A hero fights monsters and a dragon. Dark and strong, best in a modern translation.
Best for: Anglo-Saxon epic.
12. Mythology by Edith Hamilton
A clear overview of Greek, Roman and Norse myths. Useful background.
Best for: classic guide.
13. Mythos by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the Greek myths in a warm, funny voice. A good primer.
Best for: witty myths.
14. I, Claudius by Robert Graves
Emperor Claudius recounts the scandals of his family. Sharp and sprawling.
Best for: Roman palace intrigue.
15. Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
A surviving squire tells the story of the 300 Spartans. Vivid and harsh.
Best for: Thermopylae.
How to Choose
For the epics that Virgil answered read The Iliad and The Odyssey. For source myths pick Metamorphoses or Mythology. For modern retellings choose Lavinia, Circe or A Thousand Ships. For other epics try Beowulf. For Roman history read I, Claudius. The Aeneid is long, so a modern translation with notes, such as Robert Fagles's or Sarah Ruden's, helps. Virgil reportedly asked on his deathbed for the Aeneid to be burned, and Augustus ignored the request, so the poem survives unfinished in places. Reading it alongside Homer shows how Virgil adapted and answered his Greek predecessors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aeneid about?
Aeneas flees Troy and travels to Italy, founding the line of Rome.
Who wrote it?
Virgil, the Roman poet.
When was it written?
Between about 29 and 19 BCE.
Which translation should I read?
Robert Fagles and Sarah Ruden are popular modern choices.
Do I need to read Homer first?
It helps, but is not required.
Is it religious?
The gods appear as characters, but it is a literary epic about founding a nation.
Is it long?
About 10,000 lines in twelve books.
What should I read next?
Try The Iliad or Lavinia.
Which book here is best for Jason's quest?
Try Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes, which suits readers looking for Jason's quest.
Which book here is best for witch of the Odyssey?
Try Circe by Madeline Miller, which suits readers looking for witch of the Odyssey.
Which book here is best for wit and rage?
Try The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, which suits readers looking for wit and rage.
Which book here is best for witty myths?
Try Mythos by Stephen Fry, which suits readers looking for witty myths.
Which book here is best for the great journey?
Try The Odyssey by Homer, which suits readers looking for the great journey.
Which book here is best for Greek tragedy?
Try The Oresteia by Aeschylus, which suits readers looking for Greek tragedy.
Which book here is best for Trojan War?
Try The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, which suits readers looking for Trojan War.
Which book here is best for Anglo-Saxon epic?
Try Beowulf by Anonymous, which suits readers looking for Anglo-Saxon epic.