The Art of Love (Illustrated Version)

Author: Ovid (Ancient Rome), translated by Dai Wangshu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Love as an Art is a three-volume work: the first volume How to Win Love, the second volume How to Keep Love, and the third volume A Friend to Women. The first two volumes provide guidance to young men and women on how to handle love issues based on sociological and psychological foundations. The third volume is specifically for women, advocating for their social and family status, praising their intelligence and talent as no less than that of men, and encouraging women to be more proactive in their love lives. These views were, in fact, quite democratic and progressive at the time. However, the book was not considered immoral or obscene simply because it contains many descriptions of lust and celebrates the pleasures of indulgence. The three volumes of poetry were originally serious and pure, and were not intended to be seen as lewd or obscene. Love as an Art is a humorous educational poem with very sensual language and content, but it demonstrates the author's profound knowledge and meticulous scholarship on the subject.