Aristotle Poetics: Longinus On The Sublime, Demetrius On Style

Classic criticism. This volume brings together the three most influential ancient Greek treatises on literature. Aristotle's Poetics contains his treatment of Greek tragedy: its history, nature, and conventions, with details on poetic diction. Stephen Halliwell makes this seminal work newly accessible with a reliable text and a translation that is both accurate and readable. His authoritative introduction traces the work's debt to earlier theorists (especially Plato), its distinctive argument, and the reasons behind its enduring relevance. The essay On the Sublime, usually attributed to "Longinus" (identity uncertain), was probably composed in the first century AD; its subject is the appreciation of greatness ("the sublime") in writing, with analysis of illustrative passages ranging from Homer and Sappho to Plato and Genesis. In this edition, Donald A. Russell has judiciously revised and newly annotated the text and translation by W. Hamilton Fyfe and provides a new introduction. The treatise On Style, ascribed to an (again unidentifiable) Demetrius, was perhaps composed during the secod century BC. It is notable particularly for its theory and analysis of four distinct styles (grand, elegant, plain, and forceful). Doreen Innes' fresh rendering of the work is based on the earlier Loeb translation by W. Rhys Roberts. Her new introduction and notes represent the latest scholarship. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Aristotle is in twenty-three volumes. Review: This volume completely supersedes its predecessor... The Loeb editors have chosen the world's best scholars on these difficult authors for the revisions... Each ancient text is given a clear, informative introduction, outlining for general readers and specialists alike the basic problems and concerns of each essay, backed up with helpful bibliographical notes... In sum, this is an excellent, if overdue, revision of seminal criticism... Congratulations to the contributors and to the series editors for another splendidly produced volume which any scholar of classical literature should now possess. -- Richard Hawley * Classical Review * This set of revisions was past due, and its arrival is most welcome. The result is a useful and physically very beautiful little volume that, I predict, will see very heavy use. -- John T. Kirby * Classical Outlook * Author Biography: Stephen Halliwell is Professor of Greek at the University of St Andrews. Donald A. Russell, FBA (1920-2020) was Emeritus Professor of Classical Literature, University of Oxford, and Emeritus Fellow of St John's College, Oxford. Doreen C. Innes is a Fellow in Classics at St Hilda's College, University of Oxford.