The Roman Poets of the Republic

First published in 1880, this is an updated edition of William Young Sellar's 1863 study of Roman Republican poetry.

William Young Sellar (Author)

9781108029827, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 June 2011

482 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.61 kg

William Young Sellar (1825–1890) was a scholar of Latin poetry. First published in 1880, this is a lively account of poetry in the Roman Republic, which was acclaimed as the purest art form of its time. Exploring the work of a range of poets, from Andronicus, Lucilius and others in the second century BCE, through to Lucretius and Catullus in the first century BCE, Sellar shows how poems were characterised by political, religious, and social factors, as well as by the personalities of the poets themselves. Looking at genres from tragedy to comedy to satire, he also considers the role of Greek literature in the shaping of Latin poetry, and how the poets influenced each other's work. The second edition of a volume originally published in 1863, this version features an updated account of the poems of Lucilius and Catullus, and two new chapters on Roman comedy.

Preface to the second edition
1. General characteristics of Roman poetry
2. Vestiges of indigenous poetry in Rome and ancient Italy
3. Beginning of Roman literature. Livius Andronicus, Cn. Naevius, 240-202 B.C.
4. Q. Ennius, 239–170 BC
4. Life, times, and personal traits. Various works. Genius and intellect
5. Early Roman tragedy. M. Pacuvius, 219–129 BC. L. Accius, 170–about 90 BC
6. Roman comedy. T. Maccius Plautus, about 254–184 BC
7. Terence and the comic poets subsequent to Plautus
8. Early Roman satire. C. Lucilius, died 102 BC
9. Review of the first period
10. Transition from Lucilius to Lucretius
11. Lucretius. Personal characteristics
12. The philosophy of Lucretius
13. The religious attitude and moral teaching of Lucretius
14. The literary art and genius of Lucretius
15. Catullus.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]