Publication
Silius Italicus on the Battle of Cannae: A Commentary on Punica 10
| Summary: | Littlewood’s commentary on Punica 10 is commendably accessible to postgraduate and even undergraduate students of Latin and Classical Studies, but it will find many appreciative readers among scholars of Silius Italicus. In addition to providing mini-essays and notes involving literary criticism and historical analysis, the commentary discusses philological and stylistic matters. While the treatment of philological issues is not Littlewood’s principal focus, the discussion of literary and historical questions makes her commentary more useful for the type of reader that is increasingly likely to consult it in the years ahead. Littlewood’s commentary therefore continues the laudable trend evident in recent Oxford Flavian commentaries of focussing on both literary and philological issues. As in her commentary on Punica 7, Littlewood’s literary approach reveals a heightened appreciation of Silius Italicus as a poet and therefore surpasses the standard commentary that is devoted mainly to philological and textual issues. Littlewood’s commentary on Punica 10 will be utilized by all serious scholars and students of the epic. |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | Dominik, William J. |
| Subject: | Silius Italicus Punica |
| Year: | 2019 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | article |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Summary: | Littlewood’s commentary on Punica 10 is commendably accessible to postgraduate and even undergraduate students of Latin and Classical Studies, but it will find many appreciative readers among scholars of Silius Italicus. In addition to providing mini-essays and notes involving literary criticism and historical analysis, the commentary discusses philological and stylistic matters. While the treatment of philological issues is not Littlewood’s principal focus, the discussion of literary and historical questions makes her commentary more useful for the type of reader that is increasingly likely to consult it in the years ahead. Littlewood’s commentary therefore continues the laudable trend evident in recent Oxford Flavian commentaries of focussing on both literary and philological issues. As in her commentary on Punica 7, Littlewood’s literary approach reveals a heightened appreciation of Silius Italicus as a poet and therefore surpasses the standard commentary that is devoted mainly to philological and textual issues. Littlewood’s commentary on Punica 10 will be utilized by all serious scholars and students of the epic. |
|---|