Reading the letters of Pliny the younger: an introduction

This is the first general introduction to Pliny's Letters published in any language, combining close readings with broader context. Situates Pliny's Letters within the letter-writing tradition, offers new readings of favourite letters, and emphasises the importance of understanding letters within the contextof original books or informal 'cycles'. For advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and scholars interested in the study of ancient letters and imperial Latin literature. Situates Pliny's Letters within the letter-writing tradition, offers new readings of favourite letters, and emphasises the importance of understanding letters within the context of original books or informal 'cycles'. For advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and scholars interested in the studyof ancient letters and imperial Latin literature. This is the first general introduction to Pliny's Letters published in any language, combining close readings with broader context and adopting a fresh and innovative approach to reading the letters as an artistically structured collection. Chapter 1 traces Pliny's autobiographical narrative throughout the Letters; Chapter 2 undertakes detailed study of Book 6 as an artistic entity; while Chapter 3 sets Pliny's letters within a Roman epistolographical tradition dominated by Cicero and Seneca. Chapters 4 to 7 study thematic letter cycles within the collection, including those on Pliny's famous country villas and his relationships with Pliny theElder and Tacitus. The final chapter focuses on the 'grand design' which unifies and structures the collection. Four detailed appendices give invaluable historical and scholarly context, including a helpful timeline for Pliny's life and career, detailed bibliographical help on over 30 popular topics in Pliny'sletters and a summary of the main characters mentioned in the Letters. INDICE: Introduction; 1. Reading a life: Letters, Book 1; 2. Reading a book: Letters, Book 6; 3. Epistolary models: Cicero and Seneca; 4. Pliny's eldersand betters: the Elder Pliny, Vestricius Spurinna, Corellius Rufus, VerginiusRufus; 5. Pliny's peers: reading for the addressee; 6. Otium: how to manage leisure; 7. Reading the Villa Letters: 9.7, 2.17, 5.6; 8. The grand design: howto read a collection; Appendix 1. A Pliny timeline, and the great Comum inscription; Appendix 2. Letters 1-9: catalogue of contents and addressees; Appendix 3. Popular topics in the Letters: bibliographical help; Appendix 4. Index ofmain characters in the Letters.

• ISBN: 978-0-521-84292-1
• Editorial: Cambridge University
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 362
• Fecha Publicación: 22/03/2012
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés