A Companion to Greek Lyric - (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World) by Laura Swift (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Discover the power of Greek lyric with essays from some of the foremost scholars in the field today

Recent decades have seen a strong resurgence of interest in Greek lyric, resulting in this topic becoming one of the most dynamic areas of Classical scholarship. In A Companion to Greek Lyric, renowned Classical scholar Laura Swift delivers a collection of essays by international experts and emerging voices that offers up-to-date approaches on the methodology, contexts, and reception of Greek lyric from the archaic to the Hellenistic period.

This edited volume includes detailed analyses of the poets themselves, as well as a reflection of the current state of play in the study of Greek lyric. It showcases the scope and range of approaches to be found in scholarly work in the field.

Newcomers to the subject will benefit from the range of contextual and technical information included that allows for a more effective engagement with the lyric poets. Readers will also enjoy:

• Guidance on working with texts that are mainly preserved as fragments
• A selection of ways in which lyric poetry has influenced and inspired writers from Rome to the modern era
• Recommendations for further reading that offer a starting point for how to follow up on a particular topic

Perfect for undergraduate and master's students taking courses on Greek lyric or survey courses on classical literature, A Companion to Greek Lyric also belongs in the libraries of students of English or Comparative Literature seeking an authoritative resource for Greek lyric.

From the Back Cover

A COMPANION TO GREEK LYRIC

A Companion to Greek Lyric offers students and scholars of classical literature an authoritative collection of essays that illuminate the contexts and interpretation of Greek lyric from the archaic to the Hellenistic period. It contains detailed analyses of the poetry and reflects the current state of play in Greek lyric scholarship, showcasing the scope and range of approaches found in this field.

Students new to the subject will benefit from the contextual and methodological information that allows for deeper engagement with the lyric poets and will guide them through the process of working with texts that are mainly preserved as fragments. The lasting influence of lyric poetry is showcased through a selection of essays that demonstrate how writers from ancient Rome to the modern day have been influenced by the poetic form.

A Companion to Greek Lyric provides a thorough cultural and historical grounding and introduces readers to technical challenges that apply when studying Greek lyric. Recommendations for further reading round out the material, giving students and scholars of classical studies, English literature, or comparative literature the opportunity to expand on areas of interest.

Review Quotes

"This new companion provides a comprehensive survey of key information and perspectives on Greek lyric in an accessible language. In the discussions, excessively detailed and subtle scholarly questions are generally avoided, as is fitting for a companion. Its 35 knowledgeable chapters will meet the expectations and needs of Classics students who embark on an in-depth study of Greek lyric."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review

About the Author

Laura Swift is Senior Lecturer in Classical Studies at The Open University. The author of Archilochus: The Poems, Greek Tragedy: Themes and Contexts, The Hidden Chorus: Echoes of Genre in Tragic Lyric, and Euripides: Ion, she also works with theatre practitioners on how to represent and stage fragmentary Greek poetry as a contemporary art form.