Michael Putnam is an accomplished American classicist and scholar of Latin literature. He was born on September 20, 1933. Putnam is particularly renowned for his contributions to the study of Virgil's works, including the epic poem "The Aeneid." He has held academic positions at institutions such as Harvard University and has been a long-time professor at Brown University. In addition to Virgil, his academic interests encompass a wide range of Latin authors and poetic traditions. Putnam has published extensively, his works reflecting a deep insight into Roman poetry, its themes, and its impact on Western literary traditions. His scholarship is often characterized by close textual analysis and an engagement with both ancient sources and modern literary theory.