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The first book of Ovid's Metamorphoses contains an interesting variety of material. It begins with myths related to the creation of the world and man, decline from the golden age, the flood and the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha. In the second half it deals primarily with two main metamorphosis myths - Apollo's love for Daphne and the story of Io.

Guy Lee's edition, first published by CUP in 1952, supplies a detailed commentary of explanatory notes (with useful index) and, separately, a number of critical notes on teh readings adopted by his text. the substantial introduction deals with Ovid himself, with the Metamorhposes and Ovid's other works; there is also a practical section on the Ovidian hexameter and, as one might expect from an editor who is himself a consummate translator of Latin poetry, a sensitive section on translations of the Metamorphsoses (especially Golding, Sandys and Dryden).

Publius Ovidius Naso, 43 BC- AD 17, was a Roman poet, born at Sulmo (Sulmona) in central Italy. Born into a wealthy Roman family and seemingly destined for a career in politics, he held some minor official posts before leaving public service to write, becoming one of the most distinguished poet of his time. His works include Amores, a collection of short love poems; Heroides, verse-letters written by mythological heroines to their lovers; Ars Amatoria, a satirical handbook on love; and Metamorphoses, his epic work on change.