Description
Book SynopsisDrawing on Nietzsche's prolific early notebooks and correspondence, this book challenges the polarized picture of Nietzsche as a philosopher who abandoned classical philology. It traces the contours of his earliest philological thinking and opens the way to a fresh view of his later thinking.
Trade Review"Students of Nietzsche will welcome this fine study, which focuses on the philosopher's early philological writings in order to demonstrate that there is far more continuity in the Nietzschean oeuvre than is often thought. . . . Highly recommended for all upper-division undergraduates and above."—
Choice"This is an excellent book, exhaustively documented and subtly written. Its greatest contribution will probably be to students of Nietzsche, for whom it presents cogent, intelligent readings of under-discussed material. But it should not be ignored by classical philologists, for whom it will serve as a challenge and a source of strength. Books like this, and debates about them, will help foster a dialogue between students of ancient and modern philosophy and literature that is weaker than it should be."—
Bryn Mawr Classical Review"This work will be of interest to, and should be studied by, a wider audience than its title may initially suggest . . . .Porter's provocative readings . . . .convincingly demonstrate the need for more attention to this largely neglected area of Nietzsche's writing."—
The Review of Metaphysics"This fascinating analysis of Nietzsche's first book challenges the assumption of a post-
Birth of Tragedy rupture in Nietzsche's thought and shows its essential continuity with his later works. . . . This beautifully written book is a valuable study of what the author rightly calls Nietzsche's most underanalyzed text."—
German Studies ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Abbreviations Introduction 1. Skeptical philology 2. The poetry of atomism and the fictions of philology 3. Being on time: the studies in ancient rhyme and meter (1870-72) 4. Inversions of the classical ideal: the 'Encyclopedia of classical philology' (1871) 5. After philology: the reinvention of antiquity Notes Index.
