Gregory, Horace. Introduction to Metamorphoses, by Ovid. Translated by Horace Gregory. New York: New American Library, 1958. Discusses Ovid’s play with emotional extremes and conflicting impulses, which infuses Metamorphoses with psychological insight. Discusses Ovid’s interest in the subject of women and how this interest illumines his conflict with the Emperor Augustus.

Innes, Mary M. Introduction to Metamorphoses of Ovid. Translated by Mary M. Innes. 1955 Reprint. New York: Penguin, 1975. Includes sections on Ovid’s life and works, a commentary on Metamorphoses, a discussion of its influence on later European literature, and a note on Innes’ translation.

Mack, Sara. “Metamorphoses.” In Ovid. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1988. Chapters on the reception of Ovid in his own time and later, on his love poetry, on Metamorphoses, and on Ovid the poet. Chapter on Metamorphoses focuses on such difficult aspects of the poem as its structure, transitions, and the inclusion of less appealing tales.

Otis, Brooks. Ovid as an Epic Poet. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1966. Describes the plan and structure of the poem. Finds the unity of the poem in its order or succession of episodes, motifs, and ideas. Argues that this unity is marred by disharmony between the poem’s Roman-Augustan element and its amatory element.

Rand, Edward Kennard. “Poet of Transformations.” In Ovid and His Influence. New York: Cooper Square, 1963. Devotes a chapter to each of Ovid’s major works; analyzes Ovid’s influence on medieval and Renaissance authors.