Oxford Companion to Classical Literature

The third edition of The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature is the complete and authoritative reference guide to the classical world and its literary heritage. It not only presents the reader with all the essential facts about the authors, tales, and characters from ancient myths and literature, but it also places these details in the wider contexts of the history and society of the Greek and Roman worlds. With an extensive web of cross-references and a useful chronological table and location maps (all of which have been brought fully up to date), this volume traces the development of literary forms and the classical allusions which have become embedded in our Western culture. Extensively revised and updated, the Companion includes more thematic entries - medicine, friendship, science, the concept of freedom, and sexuality. These topical entries provide an excellent starting point to the exploration of their subjects in classical literature. The Companion contains extensive biographies of classical literary figures from Aeschylus to Zeno; entries on a multitude of literary styles from biography and rhetoric to lyric poetry and epic, and character entries and plot summaries for the major figures and myths in the classical canon. It is the ideal guide for students in Classics, and for all who are passionate about the vast and varied literary tradition bequeathed to us from the classical world.

Product details

• Authors: M C Howatson, M. C. Howatson, M.C. Howatson
• Assisted by: M C Howatson (Editor), M. C. Howatson (Editor), M. C. (St Anne's College Howatson (Editor), M.C. Howatson (Editor)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Trade
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 22.08.2013
• EAN: 9780199548552
• ISBN: 978-0-19-954855-2
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 197 mm x 37 mm
• Series: Oxford Paperback Reference; Oxford Quick Reference; Oxford Quick Reference; Oxford Paperback Reference
• Subjects: Fiction; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Classical linguistics / literary studies; Non-fiction book > Dictionaries, reference works; LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, LITERARY CRITICISM / Reference, Reference works, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Encyclopaedias and reference works, Literary companions, book reviews & guides, Literary companions, book reviews and guides