The Cambridge Critical Guide to Latin Literature

The Cambridge Critical Guide to Latin Literature provides a critical overview of Latin literature, with commissioned chapters and an introduction by Mary Beard. It explores texts, tools, and territories, situating the study within its global context and recalibrating links with adjoining disciplines. The Guide aims to stimulate reflection on how we engage with Latin literature and offer provocations for future development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 946 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Cambridge Critical Guide to Latin Literature presents a comprehensive and critical examination of the extensive body of work on Latin literature. In its pages, readers are offered a multifaceted exploration of the field, encompassing fifteen commissioned chapters, an extensive introduction, and a postscript by renowned scholar Mary Beard. This guide seeks to provide a diverse range of perspectives on Latin literature, rather than seeking to establish a rigid codification. Its primary objective is to offer snapshots of the discipline from various angles, fostering thought and provoking future developments.

The Critical Guide specifically focuses on three key areas: texts, tools, and territories. It situates the study of classical Latin literature within its broader global context, spanning from late antiquity to Neo-Latin. This approach moves beyond an exclusive focus on the pre-200 CE corpus and recalibrates the connections with adjoining disciplines such as history, philosophy, material culture, linguistics, political thought, and Greek. By adopting a fresh perspective on key tools such as editing, reception, intertextuality, and theory, the guide encourages readers to engage with Latin literature in innovative and thought-provoking ways.

Through its comprehensive coverage and insightful analysis, The Cambridge Critical Guide to Latin Literature serves as an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and anyone with an interest in Latin literature. It provides a thorough exploration of the field, offering valuable insights into the rich tapestry of literary works, the historical and cultural contexts in which they were produced, and the analytical methodologies employed to interpret them. By facilitating a deeper understanding of Latin literature, this guide contributes to the ongoing development and refinement of the discipline.

ISBN-13: 9781108421089