This is the first entry in the Bloom's Notes series, part of the Contemporary Literary Views Books; Bloom (The Western Canon, 1994, etc.) introduces Vergil, then steps back as various writers and academic experts past and present provide analyses of theme, character, and literary worth, mostly through excerpts from previously published material. A wealth of references ensure that readers using these study guides can start by reading about the work and then move into reading the work itself. The series, so far, goes from the Aeneid to Angelou; each volume is loaded with colorful educational tools and offers a ready source of structured information. (Nonfiction. 12+)