Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition by Pliny the Younger (PDF)

Description

In these letters to his friends and relations, Pliny the Younger, lawyer, author, and natural philosopher, provides a fascinating insight into Roman life in the period 97 to 112 AD. Part autobiography, part social history, they document the career and interests of a senator and leading imperial official whose friends include the historians Tacitus and Suetonius. Pliny’s letters cover a wide range of topics, from the contemporary political scene to domestic affairs, the educational system, the rituals and conduct of Roman religion, the treatment of slaves, and the phenomena of nature. He describes in vivid detail the eruption of Vesuvius, which killed his uncle, and the daily routines of a well-to-do Roman in the courts and at leisure, in the city, or enjoying rural pursuits at his country estates. This is a lively new translation by eminent scholar Peter Walsh, based on the Oxford Classical Text and drawing on the latest scholarship. In his introduction, Walsh considers the political background of the letters, the span of Pliny’s career, the range of topics covered in the letters, and Pliny’s literary style. Invaluable notes identify the letters’ recipients and explain allusions to historical events and terms. A general index is supplemented by two specific indexes on aspects of social life and Pliny’s correspondents. This classic will make great reading for those with an interest in classical literature and ancient history.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Peter Walsh is best known for his work on Livy and has produced editions and critical books on the author. For OWC he has translated Apuleius, The Golden Ass, Petronius, Satyricon, and Cicero, Nature of the Gods and On Obligations.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐A collection of letters from about 1900 years ago might be dusty, out of date and a mere curiosity, but the letters of Pliny are far from this. I am no latinist and know little of ancient Rome, so it was a delight to find such an approachable translation. The freshness of the letters surprises me. The things that exercised Pliny are very similar to those that concern us now. Political infighting, intrigue, character assassination, banishment and death over those things so familiar to us: theft, nepotism and the kind of cynical respectable corruption where the rich amass more at the expense of the less wealthy. Pliny seems to me to be at his best when he loses his consciousness of self and tells the story of his trials, his successes and his failures. He was clever and conscientious and a Good Man, but what a peacock! Pliny’s arch references to his abilities and his sensitivity to the good opinion of others is amusing and more than a little embarrassing. I suppose we all have friends like that whose company we seek out until they speak of themselves.I was left with the strong impression that life in Ancient Rome was far more like our own than ever I imagined it to be. The details of life were different but the principles were much the same. Romans had the same civic concerns as we do now, but failure then was a more serious business. Exile, confiscation of estates, a requirement to commit suicide and judicial or illegal death were the lot of those who judged it wrong.Things were different, and I’m glad (and perhaps relieved) that my life is not forfeit should I choose wrong, but these letters give us much insight into a world 1900 years older than their writer. Perhaps Pliny was not outstanding at all of this in Ancient Rome, but he wrote and it is he we know when others are forgotten.I’d recommend this book to anyone with an interest in human nature.

⭐Great book-i recommend!

⭐I got most of the context and really enjoyed what I understood. There were a few times where I could have used a bit more background. It made ancient Rome seem much more contemporary.

⭐This book is compiled nicely, and without wordiness which can make studies of ancient Rome dull. Watch for the addressees of Pliny’s letters to learn more about the interaction of Rome’s movers and shakers. Read and then reread as you will have missed details if you go too fast!

⭐Once you place yourself into the time period, work the language, fact is better than fiction. Such amazing times!

⭐As I write, I am delighting in Pliny’s superb capacity for friendship and his ability to massage his relationships at a distance, frequently to his own advantage. I’m afraid the e-mail and text messages of today don’t resonate in the same way.

⭐Pliny’s letters are often read for their surface message, which appears to be about the routine life of a Roman bureaucrat. However, a closer read reveals that these letters are rich in puzzles and enigmas. Very intriguing.

⭐This item was sent as a gift and was very well received. It arrived in good time and was reasonably priced.

⭐Excellent reading! I loved his letter about ‘Do you believe in ghosts?’ Then proceeding to give tales apparently true. They are so creepy! Better than written ghost stories! His letter (And Trajan’s reply!) about the new emergence of a belief called ‘Christians’ and what to do with them, would be funny, if it were not so sad. (He mentions, just as a normal thing to do; ‘I tortured two female deacons about it…..!’) He writes as we would write today. In fact, when I read extracts to one of my sons, he asked how asked it was. To reply ‘two thousand years!’ Seemed so weird it is so like today’s! It’s so modern. The intrigue, backstabbing, dishonest politicians! How they try to destroy truth, is so familiar it’s frightening. As for his poor uncle…..well worth every penny I spent.

⭐I’m a sucker for history. This is like peeking back in time at one mans mundane everyday life. You’d see no difference from the way we communicate today, how society values are not all really that different. Just different times, different attitudes, but…. all too human. Love it!

⭐Wonderful and easy to read translation.

⭐Very good book with the addition of notes to refer to.

⭐For the kindle edition, the formatting is terrible. They have tried to list the paragraph numbers in the margin, but instead they are randomly inserted into the text, so every paragraph is split in two. Not what I would have expected from a reputable publisher.

Keywords

Free Download Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition in PDF format
Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition PDF Free Download
Download Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition 2009 PDF Free
Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition 2009 PDF Free Download
Download Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition PDF
Free Download Ebook Complete Letters (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition