First published in 1950 and followed by this second edition in 1952, Gow's Theocritus comprises an authoritative text and translation of the works of the creator of Greek bucolic poetry, with an extensive commentary. The first volume presents an accessible edition with a full apparatus criticus, along with an elegant facing translation. In addition, there is a full introduction covering the life of Theocritus and the text of the poems (including a history of the manuscript). In this volume, the text of the Idylls, Epigrams, the Syrinx and Fragments can be found. The second volume presents the commentary on which Gow worked for sixteen years. Following this there is a full Greek index and a plate section, designed to render many passages of the Greek more easily accessible.