On the Nature of Things
by Titus Lucretius Carus
On The Nature of Things, written by Titus Lucretius Carus is an ancient text written by the well known poet-philosopher. Written in a very literary form, the text is used to show the writer’s ideas on the world around him.
Inside, the ideas discussed include the natural world, the history of society, the world beyond, as well as human thought and the concept of the soul. Lucretius uses various literary strategies often found in poetry to better relate these ideas. This gives the text value for historians, philosophers, as well as literaries.
Beyond any doubt, the best copy of this book is from Harvard University Press. It is a part of the Loeb Classical Library which now has a couple of editions out. The newest edition is something to marvel at. The translation does a great job of keeping the original majesty of the language while keeping it readable. As a plus, on one side of the book is the original Latin while the translated English in on the other side.