Vergil: A Biography

** "Vergil: A Biography" by Tenney Frank is an investigation of the life of the famous Roman poet, Publius Vergilius Maro, during the early 1900s. It explores the poet's history, the times he grew up in, and the general social and political environment that helped him create his works. The book wants to explain how Vergil’s life affected his poetry, including his most famous works, the "Georgics" and the "Aeneid", but the author acknowledges problems showing Vergil's life because of a lack of good information, especially the ancient "Vita" by Donatus, which isn't always correct or believable. Frank talks about Vergil's beginnings in Mantua, his family's possible Roman citizenship, and their financial situation, suggesting Vergil grew up in a place that inspired his love for writing; furthermore, his education in different cities formed his unique writing style. The introduction sets the stage to examine how Vergil's early life and the issues of the time shaped his poetry, giving a detailed look at the poet behind the epic poems. **