Publius Ovidius Naso (43BC - 17/18AD), known as Ovid, was known as much for his disgrace as for his poetry. By pleasing his contemporaries, befriending patricians and subtly mocking the emperor Augustus, he was transformed from a provincial outsider to Rome's darling - and, for some, its corrupter. Banished without trial to a remote port on the Black Sea, he continued to write. It is fortunate that most of his work has not been lost. The transformation stories of his masterpiece - The Metamorphoses - inspired not just Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton, but have been a major influence on European culture. His handbooks of erotic love taught men and women the art of dealing with the opposite sex. They brought him instant literary glory and notable adversaries. His works were banned by the emperor Augustus, by Savonarola, by the Bishop's Ban, by the Vatican and eventually by the US Custom Office; this latter only lifted in 1930. To discover who was Ovid the man, Michael Solomon travelled in his footsteps, seeking the same landscapes today that Ovid found two thousand years ago.

About the Author
Michael V. Solomon is a Romanian and German writer living in London. He started to write - mainly plays and poetry - during his teenage years in Bucharest, Romania. Later he became an engineer, designing and building bridges throughout Europe, America and the Middle East. During the pandemic, with new insights, he rewrote his debut novel The Scapegoat: Ovid's Journey Out Of Exile for an anglophone audience who, following years of lockdowns and isolation, understand freedom and exile perhaps more than ever before.

Reviews
"For any Classics lovers this is the perfect exploration into the life of such an influential poet. ...It is profound and well-written, and fully captivates you, bringing you into Ovid's journey out of exile. If you love Ancient Greece/Ancient Rome or just love the symbolism in Ovid's poetry then this will bring you into a new dimension of understanding." Inside Out Reviews "The Scapegoat is a thrilling novel with an intriguing character study that is sure to please those interested in the Roman Empire." Historic Chronicles "The Scapegoat is a thoughtful and interesting novel, with a good historical background research and unique take on historical facts. A long yet heartly recommended weekend read." Wild Writing Life "Sardonic, clever, and descriptive, this novel takes the reader not only into the life of the infamous Ovid but also into the heart of 1st century Rome with all of its political intrigue and artifice." Ellen Z Reads "The ending has a twist to it that leaves you with a smile on your face" From the Book Elf "An interesting and unusual read" The Library Door



Book Information
ISBN 9781911397434
Author Michael V. Solomon
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Unicorn Publishing Group
Publisher Unicorn Publishing Group