The Dynamics of Paratextuality in Late Antique Literature - Stumbling Texts

Through an examination of paratextuality in late antique literature, this collection of essays reconsiders the importance of the written material that appears in the margins of ancient poetic texts.

Paratexts such as headings, prefaces, letters et al. have largely been skimmed over or completely disregarded in favour of the main ancient work. However, there is now a new wave of scholarship that takes into consideration the reading of books in line with the different 'margins', or 'frames', and the structures (de-)constructed by them.

A salient feature of late antique poetry is the presence of the paratextual. For example, the prefaces of Ausonius, Claudian, Avianus, Sidonius Apollinaris, and Venantius Fortunatus are studied in their own right by the contributors, who present new understandings and interpretations of the aims of these late antique writers. In keeping with its subject matter, this volume presents a multitude of approaches intended not only to look at, but rather to read and take seriously the paratextual material. The result is a reframing of our appreciation of the marginal matter, which has up until this point been overlooked.

About the author

Christian Guerra teaches Latin at the University of Bern and Italian at the Gymnasium Muttenz, Switzerland.

Markus Kersten is a Professor in Classics at the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.

Ann-Kathrin Stähle teaches Latin and Greek at the Gymnasium Liestal, Switzerland.

Product details

• Assisted by: Marco Formisano (Editor), Christian Guerra (Editor), Markus Kersten (Editor), Ann-Kathrin Stähle (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 25.06.2026
• EAN: 9781350434912
• ISBN: 978-1-350-43491-2
• No. of pages: 224
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 234 mm x 25 mm
• Weight: 454 g
• Illustrations: Illustrationen, nicht spezifiziert
• Series: sera tela: Studies in Late Antique Literature and Its Reception
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Classical linguistics / literary studies; HISTORY / Ancient / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Ancient & Classical, Classical texts, Ancient World, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Ancient History, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Ancient, classical and medieval texts