Claudian, volume 1 (of 2) With an English translation by Maurice Platnauer

A vivid portrait emerges of the final voice of classical Rome, a poet who lived through the empire’s most turbulent decades. Born around 370 AD, he watched the Huns surge eastward, the Goths clash with Roman legions, and Theodosius stride onto the world stage, turning the tide of war and politics. His verses capture the clash of cultures, the desperation of a fading empire, and the fierce personalities that shaped its destiny.

The collection gathers a range of works: sharp invectives against the controversial official Rufinus, stirring accounts of the campaign against the rebel Gildo, and panegyrics honoring consuls and emperors such as Honorius. Through brisk, martial language and elaborate celebration, the poet blends personal ambition with public propaganda, offering listeners a first‑hand glimpse of late‑imperial Rome’s courtly intrigue and battlefield drama. The poems stand as both historical testimony and literary art, inviting you to hear the echo of a civilization on the brink of transformation.