With this three-volume companion, students can access the full literary and historical significance of the Aeneid in English through an accessible yet authoritative line-by-line commentary. Written by an experienced teacher and expert on the Aeneid, this guide unpicks Virgil's literary techniques, structural forms and historical resonances. Volume 1 gives you a broad introduction to the historical and philosophical background of the epic; to Virgil's life and works; to the central human and divine characters met in the poem; to how the epic reflects Roman society and its values; to Virgil's literary and stylistic techniques; and to the reception of the epic in later periods. This book also features maps and family trees so you can trace the travels and lineage of the characters. Plus, the general index is a vital reference tool. It can be used with Volumes 2 and 3, or indeed any edition of the Aeneid in Latin or English, as entries are pegged to line numbers. Volumes 2 and 3 present a line-by-line commentary on the poem, with tables and box features illustrating key narrative arcs and structural patterns.