Epistles Book I

This accessible volume comprises an edition with introduction and commentary of the first book of Epistles of the Roman poet Horace.

Horace (Author), Roland Mayer (Edited by)

9780521277549, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 September 1994

300 pages
20.4 x 12.8 x 2.1 cm, 0.34 kg

"This welcome addition to the Cambridge commentaries is sure to become the standard edition." Classical World

This volume comprises an edition with introduction and commentary of the first book of Horace's Epistles. These imaginary letters in verse represent the poet's most original contribution to Latin literature. The introduction discusses fully the invention of the new poetic form and the carefully devised style in which the letters are composed. There is also discussion of the addressees and of the main topics, as well as of the lay-out of the poems and the organisation of the book as a whole. The common view that the poems mark a conversion of Horace to philosophy is reassessed. The commentary offers analyses of the tone of the language, particularly the poetic qualities of Horatian usage. There is an ample index.

Introduction: 1. The Epistle as a literary form
2. Horace's career
3. The addressees and the date of composition
4. Poetic style
5. Themes
6. The organisation of the book
7. The transmission of the text. Q. Horati Flacci Epistvlarvm Liber Primvs
Commentary
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]