The Preface to the Aeneis of Virgil (1718)

This edition brings listeners into the world of an early‑18th‑century translation of Virgil’s epic, focusing on the extensive preface written by its translator, Joseph Trapp. The preface was originally presented as a scholarly farewell from Trapp’s tenure as Oxford’s first Professor of Poetry, and it doubles as a bold appeal for patronage from the era’s most influential nobles and clergy.

Within its pages, Trapp sketches the literary standards of the Augustan age, offering a detailed critical appraisal of Virgil’s style and themes. He also reveals how his own career intertwined with the political and religious disputes of the time, from defending high‑church Tory figures to navigating the fallout of the Sacheverell and Atterbury controversies.

Accompanied by a concise introduction and careful editorial notes, the work serves as a vivid snapshot of the cultural currents that shaped early English reception of the Aeneid, making it an engaging listen for anyone curious about the crossroads of poetry, politics, and scholarship in the early 1700s.