Description
Book SynopsisWell-known as a brilliant general and politician, Caesar also played a fundamental role in the formation of the Latin literary language and history of Latin Literature. This volume provides both a clear introduction to Caesar as a man of letters and a fresh re-assessment of his literary achievements.
Trade Review'In sum, this volume serves its purpose commendably: it presents a range of possibilities for approaching Caesar's historical works as literary texts rather than merely as sources of evidence; it engages with Caesar as a literary figure beyond his historical writing with a battery of strong pieces on his fragmentary works; and it situates Caesar and his literary works in the context of the extended Greco-Roman and European tradition. In these ways, this collection succeeds in demonstrating how the 'historiographic turn', which reached Caesar's writings relatively late, has now rehabilitated him as a literary artificer.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review
'Although his contemporaries judged him an excellent orator and writer, Caesar has traditionally received more scholarly attention for what he did than for what he wrote. This book remedies that neglect. Grillo and Krebs have gathered a top-notch group of experts to examine an impressive range of topics connected to the writings of Caesar. The contributions are uniformly informative and well written, and the editors have performed a difficult job with enviable efficiency and acumen. In fewer than 350 pages they give readers much detailed information, judiciously presented and up-to-date with current scholarship, that anyone interested in Caesar will want to read.' Choice
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Caesarian questions: then, now, hence Luca Grillo and Christopher B. Krebs; Part I. Literature and Politics: 1. Caesar, literature and politics at the end of the Republic Kurt Raaflaub; 2. The Commentarii in their propagandistic context Christopher B. Krebs; 3. Caesar constructing Caesar William Batstone; 4. Priesthoods, gods and stars Jörg Rüpke; 5. The politics of geography Andrew M. Riggsby; 6. Nostri and 'the other(s)' Andrew C. Johnston; Part II. Genre, Rhetoric, Language and Style: 7. Genres and generic contaminations in the Commentarii Debra L. Nousek; 8. Caesar's style Christopher B. Krebs; 9. Speeches in the Commentarii Luca Grillo; 10. Wit and irony Anthony Corbeill; 11. Literary approaches to Caesar Luca Grillo; Part III. Fragmentary Works: 12. Caesar the linguist: the debate about the Latin language Giuseppe Pezzini; 13. Caesar's orations Henriette van der Blom; 14. Caesar's poetry in its context Sergio Casali; 15. Anticato Anthony Corbeill; 16. The letters of Caesar Ruth Morello; Part IV. Sources and Nachleben: 17. Caesar and Greek historians Luke Pitcher; 18. Caesar and Roman historiography prior to the Commentarii Martine Chassignet; 19. The Corpus Caesarianum Jan Felix Gaertner; 20. Caesar in Livy and Tacitus Christine S. Kraus; 21. Caesar, Virgil and Lucan Timothy A. Joseph; 22. Narrating the Gallic and Civil Wars with and beyond Caesar James Thorne; 23. Writing war with Caesar: the Commentarii's afterlife in military memoirs Hester Schadee.
