Beyond Greek: The Beginnings of Latin Literature

Denis Feeney's "Beyond Greek" challenges the idea that the birth of Latin literature was inevitable, arguing that it was a cultural flourishing that produced the Aeneid, Metamorphoses, and other Latin classics. Feeney's work puts Roman literary history in a big comparative context and offers fresh insights into classical literary history.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 400 pages
\n Publication date: 14 January 2019
\n Publisher: Harvard University Press
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The Western canon is undeniably dominated by the works of ancient Roman authors such as Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, and Horace, making the emergence of Latin literature seem inevitable. However, in his book "Beyond Greek: The Birth of Latin Literature," Denis Feeney challenges this notion by presenting a different perspective. He argues that the origins of Latin literature were far from predetermined and were instead the result of a remarkable cultural phenomenon.

The book explores the intricate interplay between Rome's conquest of Greece and the subsequent development of Latin literature. Feeney argues that the Romans' encounter with Greek culture had a profound impact on their language, literature, and society. He examines how the Romans adapted and appropriated Greek ideas and structures to create their own unique literary language and genre.

One of the book's key themes is the process of Hellenization, which refers to the cultural and intellectual influence of Greek civilization on the Roman world. Feeney questions whether the Romans felt anxious or smug in their appropriation of Greek culture and explores how they negotiated the complex relationship between their own traditions and the foreign influences they encountered.

Feeney's writing is lively and engaging, making his book accessible to a wide range of readers interested in the history and literature of the classical world. He provides a fresh perspective on the origins of Latin literature, challenging traditional narratives and offering new insights into the complex cultural interactions of ancient Rome.

The book has received widespread praise from critics and scholars alike. Emily Wilson, in the Times Literary Supplement, praised Feeney for his "willingness to put Roman literary history in a big comparative context," stating that his work "is a powerful testimony to the importance of Denis Feeney's work that the old chestnuts of classical literary history—how the Romans got themselves Hellenized, and whether those jack-booted thugs felt anxiously belated or smugly domineering in their appropriation of Greek culture for their own purposes—feel fresh and urgent again."

The Economist also commended the book, stating that Feeney's "bold theme and vigorous writing render Beyond Greek of interest to anyone intrigued by the history and literature of the classical world."

In conclusion, "Beyond Greek: The Birth of Latin Literature" by Denis Feeney is a thought-provoking and compelling book that offers a fresh perspective on the origins of Latin literature. By exploring the complex relationship between Rome's conquest of Greece and the subsequent development of Latin literature, Feeney challenges traditional narratives and provides new insights into the cultural interactions of ancient Rome. His lively and engaging writing makes the book accessible to a wide range of readers, and it has received widespread praise from critics and scholars alike.

\n Weight: 444g\n
Dimension: 233 x 159 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780674986589\n \n