Claudian: De Raptu Proserpinae (Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries) [Paperback]

Claudian (Author), J. B. Hall (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521609305 | ISBN-13: 978-0521609302 | Publication Date: August 26, 2004

An exhaustive study of Claudian's unfinished mythological epic, with a text, apparatus criticus, and commentary. The long introduction begins with a catalogue of manuscripts; and this leads to an investigation into the manuscript tradition and the history of the poem's transmission. Dr Hall then surveys the most important printed editions of the poem. He examines various theories of dating and discusses the sources of the story. He concludes the introduction with a brief critical assessment of the form and style of the poem. Dr Hall establishes his text after an examination of all the extant manuscripts. The apparatus, though very full, is selective in that it records readings of younger manuscripts only when they offer something new. It also ignores trifling corruptions. The commentary is similarly selective. In general, it discusses everything relevant to the establishing of the text and ignores points of purely mythological and literary interest.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

An exhaustive study of Claudian's unfinished mythological epic, with a text, apparatus criticus, and commentary. The long introduction begins with a catalogue of manuscripts; and this leads to an investigation into the manuscript tradition and the history of the poem's transmission. Dr Hall then surveys the most important printed editions of the poem.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521609305
• ISBN-13: 978-0521609302
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,743,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent edition, November 10, 2011

By 

James M. Rawley - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Claudian: De Raptu Proserpinae (Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries) (Paperback)

An near-perfect edition with excellent scholarly notes. This is Claudian's most popular poem nowadays, probably since it is his only work of fiction instead of journalistic rhetoric. And what a fine poem it is, though only 1200 lines long and broken off after three short books.

The notes are very advanced. The five or ten most difficult passages are explained in the course of defending particular readings. Otherwise, the reader is on her own. However, there is an English translation or two on the internet, and the notes and introduction here are helpful, and far more than the Latin internet versions give. So if you're comfortable with Latin poetry, you'll be comfortable with this. If not, the Loeb version might be better for you.

Sainte-Beuve, in a nasty review, said Victor Hugo was a master of the techniques of the Latin decadents. You can't get more decadent than Claudian: Rome fell about five minutes after he died. He's a constant surprise, and he never stops being fun. Gibbon said he was clever but didn't touch our hearts. Some readers like poets better that way.