Works and Days (Penguin Classics) - Hesiod

“Works and Days” is one of the earliest and most influential texts in Western literature. Composed by Hesiod, a farmer-poet from Boeotia, the poem blends mythology, moral instruction, and practical farming advice into a vivid portrait of ancient Greek life.

Written as a didactic message to his brother Perses, the poem encourages justice, hard work, moderation, and piety, offering a glimpse into the values that shaped Greek society before the rise of classical Athens.

This Penguin Classics edition, beautifully translated by A.E. Stallings, brings fresh poetic clarity and rhythm to Hesiod’s ancient lines.

Main Themes of the Book

• The dignity of work and labor
• Justice vs. injustice in human affairs
• The moral consequences of laziness and greed
• The cosmic balance between gods, nature, and humanity
• Seasonal rhythms and agricultural life

Reasons to Read this book from ''Penguin Classics'' series

• A unique combination of myth, farming manual, and ethical guidance
• Early mention of myths like Pandora and the Ages of Man
• Offers a glimpse into daily life, survival, and divine order in archaic Greece
• Rooted in timeless human struggles: fairness, toil, and envy
• Accessible yet powerful for readers of classics, philosophy, and poetry

Hesiod’s “Works and Days” remains deeply relevant as a reflection on the human condition, the ethics of effort, and the cycles of life. Whether you seek philosophical insight or a poetic journey into the past, this classic is a must-have for any thoughtful reader.