Horace: Satires and Epistles (Oxford Readings in Classical Studies)

The articles included in this volume represent some of the finest writing on Horace's satires (Sermones) and epistles (Epistulae) over the past fifty years. Several have previously only been accessible in specialist journals, while five appear here for the first time in English translation. All are remarkable for the way in which they do their work at multiple levels, moving from the basics of grammar, vocabulary, and syntax to issues of genre, socio-politics, and beyond. Collectively, these articles underscore and exemplify the value of close reading, and of paying strict attention to detail. Starting with the specifics of the poetic page, they lead us into the various complex and overlapping discursive systems that Horace's poems both arise from and seek to address. A specially written Introduction surveys recent scholarship, and the specific impact of each article included.