Pleasing the Diners

In Pleasing the Diners, R. L. Barth offers a collection of English verse translations from the Latin of Martial, the ancient world's most sharp-tongued observer. Drawing on over forty years of study and practice in the "plain style," Barth captures the grit, wit, and technical precision of Rome's premier epigrammatist. This eclectic volume features over 125 epigrams, presenting a wide-ranging selection from Books I through XII.

Alongside the poet's famous poems, Barth includes many of the lesser-known epigrams-historical reflections and personal tributes-that are often omitted from standard collections. Designed as a parallel reader, this edition provides both the original Latin and the English translations, making it an essential resource for students and lovers of classical literature alike.

The collection is introduced by the translator, who shares his unique journey from a Vietnam tour of duty to discovering a "smart aleck brother" in Martial. Barth details his personal experience with the epigrammatic form and outlines a translation philosophy that rejects modern anachronisms, ensuring that Martial's world remains authentically Roman.