I would like to see a chart showing extant Latin works, according to their dates, as well as known works which have not survived. The chart should be accompanied by a scholarly text commenting on what the chart shows.
It would be interesting to see what the calling/profession of authorship was like and what were the social conditions of patronage.
I have no idea under what conditions the authors I read produced these literary works, and I don't know how literary production varied over time, and what caused the variation--so far as these things can be discovered.
Can anybody suggest books on these topics?
Is a scholarly work like this for Latin literature?
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Re: Is a scholarly work like this for Latin literature?
There are gaps, needless to say, but we are pretty well off for Latin literature. I can’t offer you a chart but historical contextualization does help make it more meaningful. A book with a good and stimulating treatment is by G.B. Conte (revised ed. 1994).
- seneca2008
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Re: Is a scholarly work like this for Latin literature?
Connected to this is the transmission of classical literature. I recommend scribes and scholars by Reynolds and Wilson. It is a lively account of the various hurdles ancient literature passed through to survive to our own time.
Persuade tibi hoc sic esse, ut scribo: quaedam tempora eripiuntur nobis, quaedam subducuntur, quaedam effluunt. Turpissima tamen est iactura, quae per neglegentiam fit. Et si volueris attendere, maxima pars vitae elabitur male agentibus, magna nihil agentibus, tota vita aliud agentibus.
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Re: Is a scholarly work like this for Latin literature?
Many thanks to Seneca and Michael. I'm sure the suggested works will lead me to others.
Here's a nice survey by James J. O'Donnell on the books Augustine knew.
https://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/texts/augread.html
Here's a nice survey by James J. O'Donnell on the books Augustine knew.
https://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/texts/augread.html
Hugh Lawson
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Re: Is a scholarly work like this for Latin literature?
Fantham's Roman Literary Culture will help answer some of those questions.