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History of Latin Literature

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Moses Hadas was (and perhaps still is) the preeminent scholar of Classical, both Greek and Latin, Literature. In A History of Latin Literature, Hadas explores and defines, explains and unveils, compresses and expounds upon the mass oevre that is Latin literature. Tracing Roman literacy from its early beginnings through its complex years of "Golden Age" to its decline, Hadas outlines clearly and concisely. This book is essential for anyone interested in ancient literature. Whether you're a high school latin student, a Classics major in college, or have no understanding or prior knowledge of the Latin language, this book is for you.

Moses Hadas' History of Latin Literature is well worth the time and the dictionary it takes to look up some of the words he likes to use (unless you happen to be one of those people who has words like "euphuistic" and "velleities" in his ordinary vocabulary, in which case my hat is off to you).

Euphuistic utilization of recondite verbiage aside, "History of Latin Literature" is a wide-ranging chronological survey of Latin literature from earliest records up to the medieval period. Examples (with translations) are included, influences between authors are assessed, and a critical judgment is given about the merit of different works. Hadas wrote in the 1950s and can sound a bit judgmental, but there is no doubt he was qualified to criticize, and his evaluations of literary merit deserve to be taken seriously even if with a grain of salt.

Coverage manages to be thorough and broad at the same time, with special chapters on Horace, Vergil, and a couple of others. The rest are placed in categories, e.g., "Pre-Ciceronian Prose", "Silver Epic", and the space within the chapter devoted to different authors is based on the the number, fame, and quality of their extant work. It may not be the best criterion, but it would be difficult to organize such a book any other way.

This book is well written and offers a way for the educated layman to fill in the gaps of his knowledge of literature and review what he already knows - Hadas discusses Ausonius and Persius as well as Horace and Cicero. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Latin literature and in need of an accessible, comprehensive introduction.