Jordanes: Romana and Getica - (Translated Texts for Historians) by Peter Van Nuffelen & Lieve Van Hoof (Paperback)

About the Book

'All three books are in their own way important additions to the study of late antique historiography: the edition of Jordanes offers more than a translation, but is also a useful focal point on the afterlife of ancient literature in the sixth century. [...] The fragments provide an excellent discussion of the works covered. [...] As a virtually complete list of late antique historical works, the Clavis is a unique working tool in this form.'
Translated from German:
'Alle drei Bücher sind auf ihre Weise wichtige Ergänzungen zum Studium der spätantiken Geschichtsschreibung: Die Ausgabe von Jordanes bietet mehr als nur eine Übersetzung, sondern ist auch ein nützlicher Brennpunkt für das Nachleben der antiken Literatur im sechsten Jahrhundert. [...] Die Fragmente bieten eine ausgezeichnete Diskussion der behandelten Werke. [...] Als nahezu vollständiges Verzeichnis der spätantiken Geschichtswerke ist der Clavis in dieser Form ein einzigartiges Arbeitsinstrument.'
Raphael Brendel, University of Munich

Book Synopsis

Of Gothic descent, Jordanes wrote a unique set of histories. The Getica narrates the history of the Goths from their earliest origins until the middle of the sixth century. Building on the lost history of Cassiodorus, it is the earliest example of a history told from the perspective of one of the barbarian peoples establishing kingdoms in the fifth and sixth centuries. It had great influence on later medieval historians, on national histories of the nineteenth century and on modern accounts of Gothic history. The Romana is a survey of world and Roman history. Whilst largely dependent on traditional Roman histories and chronicles for events up to the fourth century, it contains much unique information for the last two centuries it narrates. This book offers the first translation into English of the Getica for a century and the first modern translation of the Romana. The introduction locates the Getica and the Romana in the context of ancient historiography, building a new picture of Jordanes as a historian and of the two works themselves. It also offers a detailed discussion of the sources used by Jordanes, suggesting possible ways to identify his debt to Cassiodorus. Extensive notes guide the reader through these fascinating but often complex texts.

Review Quotes

'Inexhaustible learning of Lieve Van Hoof and Peter Van Nuffelen has made [Jordanes] honorable amends. This TTH volume is now the best and essential introduction to Jordanes's work, while remaining eminently serviceable for use in classroom settings.'
James J. O'Donnell, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

'It is hard to overstate the value of this volume. The sheer quantity of material included beyond the publication of good, up-to-date, translations of the Romana and Getica, is one of the chief benefits of the book. This makes it invaluable in the classroom, though also for anyone less familiar with Jordanes... Van Nuffelen and Van Hoof deserve fulsome praise for their achievement.'
Conor Whately, The Medieval Review

'It is worth taking a look at the book by Peter Van Nuffelen and Lieve Van Hoof, for in addition to the translations, it also contains an extensive introduction... The big pluses of this edition are the embedding of work in current research as well as the detailed footnote apparatus.'
Michael Zerjadtke, Historischen Zeitschrift

Translated from German: 'lohnt ein Blick in das Buch von Peter Van Nuffelen und Lieve Van Hoof, denn neben den Übersetzungen ist darin auch eine umfangreiche Einleitung enthalten... Die großen Pluspunkte der Ausgabe sind die Einbettung der Werke in die aktuelle Forschung sowie der detaillierte Fußnotenapparat.'

'Jordanes may get less respect than any other well-preserved ancient historian. But now the inexhaustible learning of Lieve Van Hoof and Peter Van Nuffelen has made him honourable amends. This volume is now the best and essential introduction to Jordanes' work, while remaining eminently serviceable for use in classroom settings.'
James J. O'Donnell, Arizona State University

'This impressive book has been a desideratum for many years and it constitutes a valuable tool for
research. Only a few scholars could have produced such an opus without making an injustice to the vast literature on the subject, to the complexity of the Quellenforschung, and to the discussion of the many philological issues and the labyrinth of questions that surrounds these texts.'
Massimiliano Vitiello, Sehepunkte: Review Journal for Historical Studies

'This is a beautifully crafted book. It is also very thorough and meticulous, and the authors have taken great pains to introduce Jordanes to modern readers as comprehensively as possible... Peter Van Nuffelen and Lieve Van Hoof certainly deserve to be commended for their careful, meticulous and honest approach to Jordanes and all the riddles associated with him.' Stanislav Dolezal, Latomus

'V.'s new translations and discussions will help dispel lingering trepidation and encourage newcomers to integrate the Romana and Getica into our understanding of the momentous sixth century. Jordanes is too singular a voice to be left unheard, and it will be fascinating to see what comes next.'
Brian Swaine, The Classical Review

About the Author

Peter Van Nuffelen is Professor of Ancient History at Ghent University. His books include Orosius and the Rhetoric of History, Oxford University Press, 2012 and (with Lieve Van Hoof) The Fragmentary Latin Histories of Late Antiquity (AD 300620), Cambridge University Press, 2020, and (ed. with Lieve Van Hoof) Clavis Historicorum Antiquitatis Posterioris. An Inventory of Late Antique Historiography (A.D. 300800), Brepols, 2020.
Lieve Van Hoof is Professor of Ancient History and Classics at Ghent University. In addition to the books co-authored with Peter Van Nuffelen, her publications include Libanius: A Critical Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2014, and Plutarchs Practical Ethics: The Social Dynamics of Philosophy, Oxford University Press, 2010.