Stesichorus in Context [Paperback]

The first collection of essays, by leading scholars, on a major Greek poet whose works have only recently been recovered.This book presents ten new essays on aspects of the Greek poet Stesichorus, whose works have only recently been rediscovered. It will appeal to everybody interested in Greek poetry and its influence, and in the recovery of long-lost texts.This book presents ten new essays on aspects of the Greek poet Stesichorus, whose works have only recently been rediscovered. It will appeal to everybody interested in Greek poetry and its influence, and in the recovery of long-lost texts.The sixth-century BC Greek poet Stesichorus was highly esteemed in antiquity; but by about AD 400 his works had been almost completely lost. Over recent decades, however, the recovery of substantial portions of his poetry has enabled a reassessment of his significance. These essays by leading scholars analyse different aspects of his oeuvre: the relationship between Stesichorus and epic, particularly his response to the Homeric poems; his narrative technique and his handling of erotic themes; and his influence and reception in fifth-century Athens, in Hellenistic scholarship and poetry, in the Renaissance, and in poetry today. The volume as a whole - the first dedicated to this author - amply demonstrates the extraordinary creativity and continuing vitality of the poet from Himera.1. The state of Stesichorean studies P. J. Finglass and Adrian Kelly; Part I. Stesichorus and Epic: 2. Stesichorus' Homer Adrian Kelly; 3. Stesichorus and the Epic Cycle Chris Carey; 4. Epic, lyric, and lyric epic M. L. West; Part II. Stesichorean Poetics: 5. Stesichorus, master of narrative P. J. Finglass; 6. Stesichorus the romantic Ian Rutherford; Part III. Reception and Influence: 7. Stesichorus at Athens Ewen Bowie; 8. Stesichorus on stage Laura Swift; 9. Sweet Stesichorus: Theocritus 18 and the Helen revisited Richard Hunter; 10. Stesichorus' readers: from Pierre de Ronsard to Anne Carson Gerson lƒ"