A Sixth-Century Fragment of the Letters of Pliny the Younger

Rand, Edward Kennard, 1871-1945Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.3
Word count
180K words
Chapters
18

Tags

English Originals Historical ClassicsClassical Literature Historical ReappraisalClassical TextsHumanistic CareLetters StudyAcademic MonographAcademic StudyIntellectual CommentaryManuscript StudiesTextual ResearchRoman Empire

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A Sixth-Century Fragment of the Letters of Pliny the Younger by Lowe and RandAuthor: Rand, Edward Kennard, 1871-1945,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Sep 17, 2005

Editor's review

This book centers on a sixth-century fragment of the letters of Pliny the Younger. A specialized study co-authored by Lowe and Rand, it belongs to the fields of classical philology and manuscript studies. Its value lies not in providing a complete translation of the letters but in using the fragment as a point of entry to discuss the material form of the text, the scribal tradition, and textual criticism, demonstrating how classical texts were transmitted through medieval manuscripts. For readers studying Latin philology, diplomatics, or the history of classical reception, it is a concrete and detailed case study that helps clarify the methods and limits of fragment research. Reading it requires some foundation in Latin and classical philology; otherwise, one may grasp only the conclusions. It is best used alongside a modern translation or critical edition of Pliny's letters: first understand the fragment's place within the overall text, then focus on the authors' line of argument and terminology.

Who it's for

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Reading tips

  1. First consult a modern translation or critical edition of Pliny's letters to clarify which portion of the text the fragment corresponds to
  2. While reading, focus on how the authors describe the fragment's physical features and scribal problems rather than merely memorizing conclusions
  3. Look up diplomatics terminology as you encounter it, building basic concepts before continuing
  4. Read alongside introductory works on manuscript studies in the same field to understand the general methods of fragment research

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

Contents

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18

FAQ

Is this book a translation of Pliny's letters? No. This book is a specialized study of a sixth-century fragment of Pliny the Younger's letters, focusing on the fragment itself, textual transmission, and textual criticism rather than providing a complete translation. Those who want to read the letters should find a modern translation or critical edition.
Can I read this book without Latin? You can read it, but with limitations. The book involves manuscript interpretation, scribal tradition, and philological terminology. Without a foundation in Latin and classical philology, it is difficult to grasp the details of the argument. It is advisable first to acquire basic knowledge of diplomatics and Latin, or to read it alongside relevant introductions.
What is the scholarly significance of this fragment study? Using a specific fragment as an example, it shows how classical texts were transmitted through medieval manuscript carriers and addresses methodological issues in scribal practice, textual criticism, and textual reconstruction. It has case-study value for understanding how classical philology actually works, but it must be assessed within its relevant scholarly context.

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About the author

Rand, Edward Kennard, 1871-1945 Author · American · 1871–1945

Edward Kennard Rand (1871–1945) was an American classicist and medievalist who taught for many years at Harvard University. Two of his works are held here, both concerned with classical texts and medieval manuscripts. A Sixth-Century Fragment of the Letters of Pliny the Younger examines the later transmission of an ancient letter text and belongs to the study of manuscripts and textual criticism, while The Supposed Autographa of John the Scot scrutinizes handwriting attributed to the medieval philosopher John Scotus, showing his skill in palaeography and manuscript authentication. These works draw on specific manuscripts and stress the empirical tracing of textual transmission and the authenticity of hands rather than general speculation. Public information is limited, so further biographical details and other writings cannot be added; as represented here, his books address specialist readers and offer case studies for classical and medieval textual scholarship.