Talking Books

Increasing importance is being attached to how Greek and Latin books of poems were arranged, but such research has often been carried out with little attention to the physical fragments of actual ancient poetry-books. In this extensive study Gregory Hutchinson investigates the design of Greek and Latin books of poems in the light of papyri, including recent discoveries. A series of discussions of major poems and collections from two central periods of Greek and Latinliterature is framed by a substantial and illustrated survey of poetry-books and reading, and by a more theoretical discussion of structures involving books. The main poets discussed are Callimachus, Apollonius, Posidippus, Catullus, Horace, and Ovid; a chapter on Latin didactic includes Lucretius,Virgil, Ovid, and Manilius.

A brilliant interpretation of Horace...Such an abundance of stimulating items of information...His book can already be counted as a standard work., At once meticulous and imaginative...consummate play of agile—discerning, discriminating, synthesising—mind..any scholar lucky enough to engage with critical minds like Hutchinson's...will always feel challenged to exceed himself., This collection of studies constitutes an indisputable step forward in our knowledge of the nature of Hellenistic and Latin poetry, Timely and wide-ranging... This rich and eye-opening book, which all scholars of ancient poetry will want to read, will surely stimulate further talk., ...The field of study is new and promises great results...

G. O. Hutchinson is Professor of Greek and Latin Languages and Literature in the University of Oxford.