Martial

Nonfiction, History, Ancient History, Biography & Memoir, Literary
Cover of the book Martial by Peter Howell, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Peter Howell ISBN: 9781472521408
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: February 25, 2014
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic Language: English
Author: Peter Howell
ISBN: 9781472521408
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: February 25, 2014
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English

Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis) was a Spanish writer who lived in Rome in the second half of the first century AD. He wrote only in the genre of epigram, invented by the Greeks, which he chose because of his dislike of all that was pretentious and escapist in contemporary literature, where stale mythological topics were regarded as both 'elevated' and, in times of political danger, safe. His own boundless interest in the life he saw around him in Rome, and his sense of humour, led him to prefer to express himself in short and highly polished poems. He brought the genre to such a pitch of perfection that his work has defined it for subsequent authors. Although only a limited number of his own epigrams conform to the dictionary definition as 'a short poem ending in a witty turn of thought', their effectiveness has shaped this definition. This book tells what we know about the man's commonsense attitude to life, and his hatred of hypocrisy and malice. It assesses his debt to literary tradition and the astonishing influence he had on later writers.

This book is part of the Ancient in Action series which features short incisive books introducing major figures of the ancient world to the modern general reader, including the essentials of each subject's life, works, and significance for later western civilisation.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis) was a Spanish writer who lived in Rome in the second half of the first century AD. He wrote only in the genre of epigram, invented by the Greeks, which he chose because of his dislike of all that was pretentious and escapist in contemporary literature, where stale mythological topics were regarded as both 'elevated' and, in times of political danger, safe. His own boundless interest in the life he saw around him in Rome, and his sense of humour, led him to prefer to express himself in short and highly polished poems. He brought the genre to such a pitch of perfection that his work has defined it for subsequent authors. Although only a limited number of his own epigrams conform to the dictionary definition as 'a short poem ending in a witty turn of thought', their effectiveness has shaped this definition. This book tells what we know about the man's commonsense attitude to life, and his hatred of hypocrisy and malice. It assesses his debt to literary tradition and the astonishing influence he had on later writers.

This book is part of the Ancient in Action series which features short incisive books introducing major figures of the ancient world to the modern general reader, including the essentials of each subject's life, works, and significance for later western civilisation.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book The Arab Shakespeare Trilogy by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Veg Patch by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Space, Time and Resurrection by Peter Howell
Cover of the book A New A-Z of International Relations Theory by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Theatre and Cognitive Neuroscience by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Negligence and Illegality by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Rogue Elephant by Peter Howell
Cover of the book The Dawn Chorus by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Roberto Bolaño as World Literature by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Using Digital Humanities in the Classroom by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Sexuality and Gender at Home by Peter Howell
Cover of the book Mixed Race Cinemas by Peter Howell
Cover of the book The Last Royal Rebel by Peter Howell
Cover of the book On the Arab Revolts and the Iranian Revolution by Peter Howell
Cover of the book China and the United Nations by Peter Howell
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy