The Lusiads

First published in 1572, The Lusiads is one of the greatest epic poems of the Renaissance, immortalizing Portugal's voyages of discovery with an unrivalled freshness of observation. At the centre of The Lusiads is Vasco da Gama's pioneer voyage via southern Africa to India in 1497-98. The first European artist to cross the equator, Camoes's narrative reflects the novelty and fascination of that original encounter with Africa, India and the Far East. The poem's twin symbols are the Cross and the Astrolabe, and its celebration of a turning point in mankind's knowledge of the world unites the old map of the heavens with the newly discovered terrain on earth. Yet it speaks powerfully, too, of the precariousness of power, and of the rise and decline of nationhood, threatened not only from without by enemies, but from within by loss of integrity and vision. The first translation of The Lusiads for almost half a century, this new edition is complemented by an illuminating introduction and extensive notes. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Product details

• Authors: Luis Camoes, Luis de Camoes, Luis Vaz de Camoes, Luis de Camões, Luis Vaz De Camoes
• Assisted by: Landeg White (Editor), Landeg White (Translation), Landeg White (Editor and translation), White Landeg (Editor and translation)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Trade
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 12.06.2008
• EAN: 9780199539963
• ISBN: 978-0-19-953996-3
• Dimensions: 132 mm x 195 mm x 16 mm
• Series: Oxford World's Classics; Oxford World's Classics; World's classics
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; POETRY / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, LITERARY CRITICISM / Renaissance, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / Spanish & Portuguese, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Poetry by individual poets, Portuguese, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, c 1500 to c 1600, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Literary studies: c 1400 to c 1600