Ammianus Marcellinus: The Allusive Historian

Cambridge University Press - Reissue edizione (28 aprile 2011),

70.00 €

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Details

Author

Kelly Gavin

Publishers

Cambridge University Press, Reissue edizione (28 aprile 2011)

Keyword

Classica Ancient Rome Greece

Binding description

Dust jacket

State of preservation

New

Binding

Softcover

Inscribed

First edition

Description

8vo, br. ed. pp.392. Ammianus Marcellinus is usually regarded as our most important source for the history of the second half of the fourth century AD, while his literary qualities are neglected. This book demonstrates what a subtle and manipulative writer Ammianus is; attention is paid particularly to his rich and variegated intertextuality with earlier classical literature and history. Questioning the prevailing interest in the historian's life as the key to his work, Dr Kelly evaluates the historiographical function of the vivid and thrilling autobiographical passages. The range of Ammianus' allusions is surveyed, including his use of classical examples, his relationship with historical source-texts and the workings of internal echoes within the history. His interactions with other texts are seen as carefully controlled and meaningful; and both his allusive techniques and writing in general, it is argued, are better viewed as reflecting a classical, rather than a late antique, aesthetic.