The Cambridge Companion to the Writings of Julius Caesar

A clear introduction to Caesar as a man of letters and a fresh re-assessment of his literary achievements.

Luca Grillo (Edited by), Christopher B. Krebs (Edited by)

9781107023413, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 December 2017

418 pages, 2 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.5 cm, 0.72 kg

'Although his contemporaries judged him an excellent orator and writer, Caesar has traditionally received more scholarly attention for what he did than for what he wrote. This book remedies that neglect. Grillo and Krebs have gathered a top-notch group of experts to examine an impressive range of topics connected to the writings of Caesar. The contributions are uniformly informative and well written, and the editors have performed a difficult job with enviable efficiency and acumen. In fewer than 350 pages they give readers much detailed information, judiciously presented and up-to-date with current scholarship, that anyone interested in Caesar will want to read.' Choice

Well-known as a brilliant general and politician, Julius Caesar also played a fundamental role in the formation of the Latin literary language and remains a central figure in the history of Latin literature. With twenty-three chapters written by renowned scholars, this Companion provides an accessible introduction to Caesar as an intellectual along with a scholarly assessment of his multiple literary accomplishments and new insights into their literary value. The Commentarii and Caesar's lost works are presented in their historical and literary context. The various chapters explore their main features, the connection between literature, state religion and politics, Caesar's debt to previous Greek and Latin authors, and his legacy within and outside of Latin literature. The innovative volume will be of great value to all students and scholars of Latin literature and to those seeking a more rounded portrait of the achievements of Julius Caesar.

Introduction: Caesarian questions: then, now, hence Luca Grillo and Christopher B. Krebs
Part I. Literature and Politics: 1. Caesar, literature and politics at the end of the Republic Kurt Raaflaub
2. The Commentarii in their propagandistic context Christopher B. Krebs
3. Caesar constructing Caesar William Batstone
4. Priesthoods, gods and stars Jörg Rüpke
5. The politics of geography Andrew M. Riggsby
6. Nostri and 'the other(s)' Andrew C. Johnston
Part II. Genre, Rhetoric, Language and Style: 7. Genres and generic contaminations in the Commentarii Debra L. Nousek
8. Caesar's style Christopher B. Krebs
9. Speeches in the Commentarii Luca Grillo
10. Wit and irony Anthony Corbeill
11. Literary approaches to Caesar Luca Grillo
Part III. Fragmentary Works: 12. Caesar the linguist: the debate about the Latin language Giuseppe Pezzini
13. Caesar's orations Henriette van der Blom
14. Caesar's poetry in its context Sergio Casali
15. Anticato Anthony Corbeill
16. The letters of Caesar Ruth Morello
Part IV. Sources and Nachleben: 17. Caesar and Greek historians Luke Pitcher
18. Caesar and Roman historiography prior to the Commentarii Martine Chassignet
19. The Corpus Caesarianum Jan Felix Gaertner
20. Caesar in Livy and Tacitus Christine S. Kraus
21. Caesar, Virgil and Lucan Timothy A. Joseph
22. Narrating the Gallic and Civil Wars with and beyond Caesar James Thorne
23. Writing war with Caesar: the Commentarii's afterlife in military memoirs Hester Schadee.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]