Gaius Valerius Catullus (c. 84-c. 54 BCE), from a wealthy family in Verona, is known for his poems that combine erudite literary allusions with lyrical love poems, chatty and amusing poems to and about his friends and acquaintances, and abusive, often obscene, satirical poems about political enemies, rivals in love, and anyone he disliked. His most famous poems chronicle the ups and downs of an unhappy love affair with a married woman he refers to as Lesbia.
(Bio by Susan McLean.)