Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part I. Roman

Miller, Frank Justus, 1858-1938Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.6

Word count: 292K words
Chapters: 30

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.Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part I. Roman by Frank Justus MillerAuthor: Miller, Frank Justus, 1858-1938,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Feb 5, 2011

Editor's review

This book is the first part of a study of Italian poetry, devoted specifically to Roman poetry, by the classical languages and literature scholar Frank Justus Miller. It is aimed at readers who wish to gain a systematic understanding of Roman poetry, surveying its genres, representative works, and literary-historical context in the form of scholarly essays. Unlike a general anthology, its emphasis is on "study" rather than "selected translations," making it suitable as an introduction to Roman poetry or as a classroom reference. Readers can use it to build an overall picture of Roman poetry and then follow the leads in the book to read the original works. Because it is an English-language work of early date, its discussion reflects the interests and emphases of classical scholarship of that era, and today's readers should use it with a discerning eye. The electronic edition is easy to search, making it suitable for reading alongside the original texts and for course study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and researchers in classical languages and literature
English-language readers who want a systematic understanding of Roman poetry
Teachers of Western classical literature courses as a reference
Advanced readers interested in the origins of Italian poetry

Not a good fit for

Readers who want to read poetic translations rather than scholarly discussion
Complete beginners with no background in classical literature
Those seeking only light, recreational reading

Reading tips

Read through the whole book first to grasp the overall context of Roman poetry, then delve into specific chapters according to interest.
When a specific work is discussed, reading it alongside the original or an anthology yields better results.
Pay attention to the author's research perspective and the limitations of his era, and make brief annotations for later review.
The English discussion is dense, so it is advisable to read one chapter at a time and make an outline rather than reading it all at once.

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.

FAQ

Does this book include the original poems or translations?

Judging from the title and nature of the book, it is a scholarly work on Roman poetry, focusing on discussion and analysis rather than providing complete selected translations. If you want to read the original works, you will need to use a poetry anthology or translation alongside it; this book is better suited as an introduction and reference.

Can I read it without a background in classical literature?

You can try, but there will be a certain threshold. The book covers the genres, authors, and background of Roman poetry, and without a foundation it is easy to lose track of the discussion. It is advisable to first acquire some basic knowledge of Roman literary history, or to read it alongside introductory works.

Why was only Part I published?

The title specifies "Part I. Roman," indicating that this book focuses on the Roman poetry section and is the first instalment of a larger study plan. Readers interested in the subsequent development of Italian poetry will need to find the corresponding later parts or other works to continue.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Miller, Frank Justus, 1858-1938 Author · American · 1858–1938

Frank Justus Miller (1858–1938) was an American classicist who taught for many years at the University of Chicago. He is best known for his translations of Ovid and Seneca in the Loeb Classical Library, versions that are still used by scholars and general readers of classical literature. The library holds his Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part I. Roman, a work focused on Roman poetry and its themes and artistic qualities. Public information on his early life and academic career is limited, but his translations and teaching reflect a sustained contribution to the transmission of Latin literature.