The Satyricon

The Satyricon is a classic of comedy, a superbly funny picture of Nero’s Rome as seen through the eyes of Petronius, its most amorous and elegant courtier. William Arrowsmith’s translation - a lively, modern, unexpurgated text - recaptures all the ribald humour of Petronius’s picaresque satire. It tells the hilarious story of the pleasure-seeking adventures of an educated rogue, Encolpius, his handsome serving boy, Giton, and Ascyltus, who lusts after Giton - three impure pilgrims who live by their wits and other men’s purses.