which was well known for its copper in 2007, though ‘some papers were mines? Likewise, how many holiday subsequently commissioned for the BOOK makers would be aware that a visit to collection’: hence, one assumes, the Santorini was actually one to Santa Irene lengthy gestation. Certainly, seekers after (‘Holy Peace’) – the name of a local knowledge on the subject are more likely church given to the island in the than not to find what they want, though REVIEWS thirteenth century AD? Such enchanting the reviewer was somewhat disappointed nuggets of information are a feature of not to see any discussion of that well- Edited by Alan Beale, Peter Jones the book, alongside slightly more obscure known poem attributed to pseudo-Ovid, and Colin Leach ones. The importance of pigs was one the Consolatio ad Liviam. B.’s Introduction fine example: in order to preserve the admirably covers the book’s contents, and meat of this particular livestock, the is followed by a wealth of footnotes and a ‘cheap, less tempting bits were salted and lengthy bibliography (as, indeed, are the An Appeal: we are always looking for made into sausages. The Greeks did not individual essays). B. also offers an essay reviewers. If you would like to join have a single word for ‘sausage’: they had on Cicero’s ‘curious’—and fragmentary— the list, please e-mail Alan Beale at eleven.’ Fascinating stuff. Consolatio ad se. Worthy of note are JHKO [email protected] As well as illuminating revelations, the Chong-Gossard’s Mourning and Consolation book does of course deal with the in Greek Tragedy: the rejection of comfort, and expected topics such as the rise of D Konstan’s The Grieving Self: Reflections on democracy, the building of the Parthenon, Lucian’s ‘On Mourning’ and the consolatory CLASSICAL CIVILISATION and the Peloponnesian war, and tradition. (Why have titles become so information is frequently accompanied by elongated?). C-G’s essay concentrates on EUREKA! EVERYTHING YOU quotations taken from writers such as Plato the refusal to be consoled: good examples EVER WANTED TO KNOW or Sophocles. But J. has not set out to form come from Euripidean fragments ABOUT THE ANCIENT GREEKS an argument or produce a scholarly debate. (notably Dictys and Hypsipyle), his Alcestis, (BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK), Rather he presents the facts and, having and from Sophocles’ Electra. ‘That (i.e. by Peter Jones laid them all out, he draws logical refusal of attempted consolation) is the Atlantic Books (2014) h/b 384pp conclusions as and when required. vicious nature of a genre based on £19.99 (ISBN 9781782 395140) For me as a teacher of Classical extraordinary characters from mythology’. Civilisation, some of the book was prior Well, yes, but this is, after all, Greek This accessible and entertaining book knowledge, but it acted as a handy tragedy, in which kakon kakois kakon pherei.. covering the whole of Greek history in reminder of all those facts that students Konstan has a perhaps more clearly defined temporal segments is a often ask and you might have forgotten. agreeable task in looking at Lucian’s great read. He begins with the Trojan War At the same time there were plenty of unsurprisingly satirical critique of (and therefore discusses Knossos and areas where my knowledge was limited, mourning practices and consolatory Hisarlik), and ends with the rise of the and J. ensured I was informed of the literature (typically, he points out that the Roman Empire. Along the way he essential details. Without a doubt it lamentations of the living are no use to introduces the key players of the age, reignited my passion for the subject and I the dead, any more than are garlands on including , Socrates, Alexander the cannot wait to return to many of the tombstones and the like, while implying Great and Archimedes; he outlines the places mentioned, or hunt out artefacts, that it is a hypocritical charade when, say, role of the gods, provides fascinating frescoes or corners of sites and cities that parents are coaxed to eat at the funeral insights into everyday life in ancient times, J. refers to. However, the book would also feast): has the time come for more critical and shows us the very foundations of be a superb gift for anyone with an attention to be paid to this prolific, but Western culture. All of this is described in interest in the period. It is the sort of rather under-studied author? Incidentally, J.’s usual clear and concise language and book that would appeal to novices and guidance about where best to locate this sprinkled with his trademark wit. experts alike. It was a sheer delight to read work, e.g. in the Loeb Library edition of A useful introduction gives tips on from beginning to end. Lucian, would have been helpful. pronunciation, as well as a series of maps. JHD Scourfield finds the ‘genre’ of The chapters appear chronologically, each Chloe Lewis: St Margaret’s School, Bushey ‘consolation’ abnormally fluid and hard to beginning with a handy timeline, and they go define: since, not without justice, he even on to be divided up into regular sub- wonders how far it is a meaningful headings, meaning that the book is accessible GREEK AND ROMAN category at all; his conclusion that to all. While chapters are organised in a CONSOLATIONS: consolation is ubiquitous and universal logical manner that would allow you to dip in Eight studies of a tradition and its need occasion no surprise, for him or us. and out of the book for reference using the aftermath, ed. by Han Baltussen (His 138 footnotes, though, provide contents or index as appropriate, the book Classical Press of Wales (2013) h/b plenty of meat.) Marcus Wilson offers a has a clear sense of continuity. It does, 200pp £47.17 (ISBN 9781905125562) new reading of Seneca’s consolatory therefore, read well as a whole. writings (was Seneca’s aim not to Did you know that our word ‘copper’ This book, like so many, had its origins in sympathise but to shock?) and Josef derives from the Greek Kupros, ‘Cyprus’, a colloquium, held at the ICS in London Loessl writes about Augustine of Hippo,

The Journal of Classics Teaching 16 (31) p.47-56 © The Classical Association 2015. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, Downloaded distribution,from https://www.cambridge.org/core and reproduction in any medium,. IP address: provided 170.106.202.58 the original, on work 25 Sep is unaltered2021 at 14:39:56 and is ,properly subject to cited. the Cambridge The written Core permis termssion of of use, Cambridge available Universityat Press 47 https://www.cambridge.org/core/termsmust be obtained for commercial. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 re-use or in order to create a derivative work. arguing that his work should be There are four parts to this volume: follow the hardback after three years; and interpreted as ‘both a continuity and a Novels and Authors (divided into Greek this volume will not date. transformation of ancient consolation’. and Roman); Genre and Approaches; Peter Adamson shows the close link Influences and Intertextuality; Themes Stephen Chambers: Balliol College Oxford between Arabic ethical treatises and and Topics. There were very few chapters Greek philosophical consolation; G in any part which I did not find engaging. Boys-Stones uses the example of the The opening eleven chapters would be an pseudo-Plutarchan Consolatio ad excellent place to direct any reader GREEK LITERATURE Apollonium to take a ‘clean run’ at approaching the texts or genre for the considering how a philosopher might first time. The five major Greek novels HOMER, THE view or use consolation in general. and two major Latin ones lead the way, by tr. by Martin Hammond with intro. Your reviewer was left with the (in order of presentation) Chariton, by Jasper Griffin Bloomsbury (2014) reflection that the mountains have indeed Longus, Xenophon, Achilles Tatius, p/b 352pp £9.82 (9781472532480) laboured greatly, but that the end-product Heliodorus, Petronius and Apuleius. will be of necessarily specialist interest, Lesser or fragmentary texts are also dealt This is a reissue of Hammond’s translation far removed from the schoolroom or with succinctly. There is a pleasing lack of of Homer’s Odyssey from 2000, which college lecture hall. Sensibly, passages in conformity in the approaches taken by the must compete with many other Greek and Latin are translated. The book contributors, some offering a summary of translations of the Odyssey available for production is of a notably high standard. the text discussed and others not; all, teachers’ recommendation to classes. It is however, tackle important issues of a prose translation, with helpful layout and Colin Leach authorship (whether biographical and useful introduction, clearly presented on dating controversies or contested the page and well bound in a sturdy cover. attributions), recurring themes and It has line numbers next to the text to help A COMPANION TO THE generic conventions. There is little students navigate their way through the ANCIENT NOVEL ed. by Edmund theoretical obfuscation to be found text and to make precise references. P. Cueva and Shannon N. Byrne anywhere in the chapters: it seems to me Proper nouns are given in the Greek style, Wiley Blackwell (2014) h/b 612pp that the ‘general reader’ of the series’ even to the extent that familiar names like £120.00 (ISBN 9781444336023) mission statement has been kept in mind Circe become Kirke, which may make by nearly all of the contributors. things tricky, as traditional English This excellent series, Blackwell Companions My own personal interests may pronunciations will not fit the to the Ancient World, now contains nearly dictate which chapters, apart from the transliteration on the page; the Cyclops fifty titles, and it seems to me to have essential introductory ones, I would remains the Cyclops however. The old been consistent in achieving its stated recommend most: De Temmerman on favourite ‘the wine-dark sea’ has gone and aims of providing sophisticated and Characterisation, the sequence of ten the sea becomes sparkling; other formulaic authoritative overviews of periods of chapters on intertextual matters across epithets (‘Dawn with her rosy fingers’) are ancient history, genres of classical the novels (e.g. Hallett and Hindermann repeated exactly, remaining true to Homer literature, and the most important themes on Roman Elegy and the Roman Novel or but sitting awkwardly with the modern in ancient culture. This volume comprises Zanetto on Greek Novel and Greek prose which would not use repeated approximately thirty-seven concise essays Archaic Literature), the chapters on phrases in the same way. written in a clear, provocative, and lively gender, education and Greek love, or The aim of the translation is to manner, ‘designed for an international finally Winkler on the links between accurately render the Greek into modern audience of scholars, students, and Achilles Tatius, Heliodorus and Alfred English. The diction throughout is modern general readers’. This area of study has Hitchcock (with frequent recourse to with no archaising or elevated tone recently seemed to be breaking out from Aristotle on ‘the wondrous’, ‘the apparent, which means that poetry is its specialist confines in doctoral theses irrational’, etc). almost entirely absent. It could certainly be and expensive monographs: for example, I have some criticisms: the relevance recommended for students working closely The Cambridge Companion to the Greek and of some chapters to the subject-matter of with the Greek text for a precise idea of Roman Novel (CUP 2008, ed. Tim the volume is not made clear (e.g. a survey how a passage should be translated; Whitmarsh), the nineteen chapters of of ‘Latin Culture in the Second Century students of Classical Civilisation reading which appear frequently in the reference AD’) and there is inconsistency in the for speed and the story may find it rather sections here. For many of us, I suspect, handling of quotations, especially Greek flat. Despite the modern idiom the if it had not been for Balme’s The which is sometimes written in speeches do not sound as though anyone Millionaire’s Dinner Party and Balme and transliterated form, but more often not. would actually say them, so the text falls Morwood’s Cupid and Psyche, we might not There are, though, far more positive between a heightened narrative recitation have read any of the texts covered in this things to say about this book than and a prose text to be read like a novel. volume at all. Speaking for myself, that is negative. It would make an excellent Here is Hammond in the passage a significant loss, to be rectified now by additional, third book on the library where Eurykleia recognises Odysseus: reading the collected translations in B.P. shelves (alongside Reardon and ‘Joy and grief together seized her Reardon’s anthology (4th revised edition, Whitmarsh), if you can afford the price. heart and her eyes were filled with tears, 2008). If not, the paperback edition seems to and her strong voice was blocked.’

Downloaded48 from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep 2021Book at 14:39:56 Reviews, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 Compare this to E V Rieu’s more background myths (pp. 10, 33, 44, 46), date English, accurate as a few spot natural rhythms in the Penguin Classics information about the gods (pp. 11-12), checks quickly show, yet using modern edition: ‘Delight and anguish swept Greek customs and laws (pp. 25, 28, 47, expressions (e.g. ‘have a heart, sir’ at l. through her heart together; her eyes were 49). These notes aid the reader’s 508). It is clearly designed for stage filled with tears; her voice was strangled understanding of the cultural, religious performance as well as reading; M. is by emotion.’ and historical context of the play, as well founder of the Aquila Theatre as well as a Neither can get the effect of Fenton as allowing the reader a glimpse at professor of Classics. The introduction in Pope’s version of the Odyssey: modern reception. For example, M. has a section on how Greek plays were ‘Smiles dew’d with tears the pleasing encourages the modern audience to staged, and the text and notes include strife exprest/Of grief and joy, alternate appreciate the gravitas and centrality of suggested stage directions. W.’s in her breast.’ core cultural values, such as divine laws, introduction draws out and discusses the Overall this is a highly professional role of the gods, heroism, and how issues which make this play so interesting: production, to be seriously considered for fundamental these values would have whether Neoptolemus really changes his textbook use in the classroom. been to the ancient audience. mind, or is he still, at the end, trying to However, much of M.’s volume is trick Philoctetes? - W. thinks perhaps yes; John Bulwer: Euroclassica not so much taken up by the translated most others, including me, think no; the text itself, but by the introduction and significance of ’ apparition at the appendices. It is unclear why appendix 1 end (an unusual device for Sophocles: SOPHOCLES ANTIGONE: A and 2 appear after the translated play, as could he have been Odysseus in disguise, VERSE TRANSLATION WITH the function of these latter sections seem yet another piece of trickery?). W. gives a INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, to provide an extended version of the good account of why the Athenian by David Mulroy introduction. For example, in the audience would have been on the edge of Wisconsin (2013) p/b 96pp £8.95 introduction, M. offers a discussion on their seats. (ISBN 139780299290849) Oedipal myth and a synopsis of the story, This translation would be followed by a discussion on ancient appropriate for anyone doing a Classics or M. firmly sets out ‘to do justice to the history from 1200-300BCE, before drama course, with or without the rhythmic character of the spoken returning again to the mythological language. No prior knowledge of the passages by using a strict iambic elements in the Antigone (xxvii). The mythological background is assumed; pentameter, while conveying the introduction’s finale refers to the Greek everything one needs to know is explained musicality of the songs by using short, theatre, use of masks and theatrical in the introduction and notes. rhymed stanzas.’ (p.ix). In other words, festivals. Whilst all of this information is M.’s aim is to animate the musical and interesting and insightful; the presentation Colin McDonald performative element of the ancient text, and ordering of the introduction could re-animate how it would have been have been better arranged with the performed in antiquity with rhythm and concerns of the appendices being : HECUBA, pulse, removing the mundanity of most absorbed at this point. by H.P. Foley Bloomsbury (2015) p/b motionless translations of However, the ordering of the book is 146pp £16.99 (ISBN 9781472569066) drama. The impact of this lyrical a very minor point to raise and, in fact, composition is that the ancient stage is comes down to preference. It ought not Throughout antiquity Hecuba enjoyed brought to the modern era and vividly to be overlooked that for a short volume great renown. Included among Euripides’ transferred to modern performers, this book packs a dramatic punch. M. ten canonical plays in the Hellenistic era, dancers and—ultimately—to the modern offers any reader an informed, astute, it became part of the ‘Byzantine Triad’ of audience. insightful and lively volume. In short, this Euripidean tragedies studied in schools Suddenly the student of Greek volume is excellent in its capture of for their rhetorical brilliance and pithy performance is reminded that, unlike antiquity and modern presentation and aperçus. It was the first Greek drama to be modern renditions of Sophocles or would be most useful as an introduction staged in the Renaissance and influenced indeed the spoken words of modern plays to Greek theatre to all students of later Revenge tragedies (including, more generally, metre influences and Sophocles. perhaps, Hamlet), before falling out of transforms the meaning of the favour in the 19th century and regaining performance. M., to capture the ancient Sam Newington: University of Aberdeen popularity in the late 20th. stage, has brought to life the technicalities In this concise, elegant and well- of the ancient language and through the written study, F. examines the context of vernacular has allowed the student an SOPHOCLES’ PHILOCTETES, Hecuba’s first performance, analyses its appreciation of the compositional tr. with notes by Peter Meineck, with content and considers its reception from sophistication of Sophocles’ metre. intro. by Paul Woodruff 5th century BC Greece to the 21st century M. throughout the translated text Hackett (2014) p/b 80pp (ISBN AD. The opening chapters place Hecuba provides informed notes about a range of 9781624661228) within the context of the first decade of topics and themes, such as: stage the Peloponnesian War and the shift, directions (pp. 2, 9), language (pp. 4, 20, This is an excellent translation of this traced by Thucydides, from an earlier 32), textual comparisons (p.6), always intriguing play: clear, simple, up-to- morality, where ‘unwritten laws’

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep Book2021 atReviews 14:39:56, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at 49 https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 influenced attitudes to (for example) comprehensive introduction and burial and xenia (guest-friendship), reference work’ to span the history of HELLENISTIC TRAGEDY: TEXTS, towards the hard-nosed ‘might is right’ comedy ‘from its beginnings in Greece to TRANSLATIONS AND A expediency exemplified in the Melian its end in Rome, as well as its Hellenistic CRITICAL SURVEY, by Agnieszka Dialogue. This transition may be mirrored and Roman receptions’. Reception figures Kotlinska-Toma Bloomsbury (2015) in the play itself. Suggesting that prominently, but within the confines of h/b 322pp £70 (ISBN 9781472524218) Euripides may have been the first the classical world. Post-classical dramatist to combine the stories of reception in the theatre receives an The sense in Aristophanes’ Frogs of the Polydorus and Polyxena, and addressing occasional mention, but the variety of end of an era in Greek tragedy is here the question of the play’s unity, F. shows scholarly approaches since the 60s and argued to be unduly influential. Whilst how Hecuba apparently learns to argue 70s is surveyed in an introduction that New Comedy is increasingly known and with increasing sophistry in order to take starts with a general reflection on social studied, Hellenistic tragedy is neglected. vengeance on Polymestor, entrapping him developments (or revolutions). This Yet ancient scholarship recognised an by flouting the very laws of xenia that she forms a prelude to a summary of ‘new ‘Alexandrian Pleiad’ of (not always the is punishing him for breaking. waves of criticism’ and other trends in same) seven tragedians after the Big At the heart of the book is a archaeological and textual scholarship. Three. S. offers a defence and scene-by-scene survey of the play. For Aimed principally at the academic rehabilitation: the genre took significant this fully to make sense, the reader would market, this fine reference work would be fresh directions, and theatre was need to be familiar with the text, either in hard going for school use, although there important in disseminating Greek culture Greek or in translation. Including useful is much that a teacher could profitably among new royals and ambitious elites. considerations of themes such as ghosts diffuse. Bernhard Zimmermann’s 24-page From the fifth century we have texts in Greek drama and Euripides’ attitude overview of Aristophanes, for example, but little visual evidence; afterwards this is towards sacrifice and self-sacrifice, the treats topics such as the ‘comic hero’ or reversed. High double-decker stages (as at analysis concludes with a thought- comic themes and techniques in a concise Priene) became the norm, with attendant provoking discussion of the trial scene, but richly illustrated manner. Comic questions about staging, and the theatrical the content and rhetorical style of whose heroes in his account are multiform and mask was the most popular decorative speeches reveal much about the characters deliberately inconsistent, a view which Z. motif of the age. Travelling players, delivering them. Wisely, a separate chapter then supports by contrasting Dicaeopolis professional guilds and court patronage is devoted to the choral odes, which, F. and Trygaeus (sympathetic) with replaced the well-heeled sponsors and writes, ‘can bear a tangential relation to Strepsiades and Peisetaerus (not so amateur choruses of classical Athens. the stage events’. attractive) or Demos and Philocleon Plays continued to be written on famous Arguing that ‘it is important to (transformation ‘gives a positive twist to myths, but historical subjects were also examine how the play’s earlier reception the audience’s initial unease’). One may favoured: Moschion dramatised the can help to interpret it’, F. gives a brief yet question whether ‘plays dominated by downfalls both of Themistocles and of intriguing overview of Hecuba’s reception female characters’ (‘heroes’ or ‘heroines’ Alexander of Pherae. Scanty evidence as from Aristophanes to the early 20th are avoided) would have presented the well as generic convergence can make it century, before discussing recent audience with a difficulty of accepting the hard to distinguish tragedies from satyr influential (if not always successful) comic plan of the ‘female protagonists’ plays. Sositheus’ play about Daphnis productions and adaptations. Eminently especially when the male characters ‘cut a (lovers reunited in a distant land) seems to readable and admirably accessible, the poor figure’ in these plays. Then there is look forward to the Greek novel as well as book (aimed primarily at undergraduates?) Frogs where ‘identification is impossible’ back to Euripides. assumes some classical knowledge. It because Dionysus is divine and ‘takes on The two most famous examples of includes helpful maps, a glossary of the role of ’ bomolochos ‘in the second half Hellenistic tragedy receive satisfying ancient and technical terms, a reading list, of the play’ (a questionable statement treatment. The papyrus fragment of a an exhaustive chronology and notes. given his manifest inability to play the role play about Gyges published by Edgar of Herakles, his appeal to his own priest, Lobel in 1950 attracted various David Stuttard not to mention his bowel’s response to speculation (an iambic poem by fear in the first half). More interesting Archilochus, a pre-Herodotus play), but than this broad characterisation is the this speech by the spied-upon wife of THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF analysis of the way Aristophanes develops GREEK AND ROMAN COMEDY, Candaules is now generally agreed to character and ‘changing identities’ and the reflect Hellenistic interest in eastern ed. by Michael Fontaine and way he presents himself as a sort of Adele C. Scafuro courts and in the historian himself. Our comic hero. most extensive fragments come from the OUP (2014) h/b 894pp £115 Well worth adding to the university (ISBN 9780199743544) Exagoge of Ezekiel, probably a liberal Jew library, this should be a stimulating work in Alexandria. Moses speaks a highly for the established scholar and an Euripidean prologue. His dialogue with Within three parts (Greek, Roman, invaluable reference work for the graduate the Burning Bush circumvents transmission/ancient reception) there are student. prohibition on representing God at the 41 entries (one a reprint, the rest new) and cost of slight absurdity. An Egyptian two appendices, forming ‘the first Alan Beale

Downloaded50 from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep 2021Book at 14:39:56 Reviews, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 messenger gives a splendidly Aeschylean However, unlike their predecessors, influence on emperors eastern and description of the parting of the Red Sea. they were firmly placed at the core of the western. Some were effectively regents Unashamedly a converted thesis, this imperial propaganda machine: Faustina I in the case of young or weak rulers, and will be a useful work of reference. An accompanied the emperor Pius in his as often as not rewarded with death. In interesting appendix details some 170 postings abroad as a Roman official; she the case of Gallia Placidia/Valentinian, known Hellenistic theatres. There are was granted the honorific titles of Diva Bonifatius was true to her cause, but occasional oddities of English, and some and Augusta on imperial coins and then became the victim of a political curious (and inconsistent) renderings of inscriptions and, before her death, she game when she wished to thin out those proper names. Not an obvious one for the succeeded to establish an alimentary generalissimos seeking position in the school library, but an informative read for scheme for the support of girls, the western empire. For instance, in 422 she teachers and for university students. I felt ‘Faustinian Girls’. Faustina II had sends Bonifatius to Spain, presumably I had learned a lot. unprecedented honours: she was given to help his rival Castinus deal with the the right to coin and received the title Vandals. Whatever happened between John Taylor mater castrorum, as protector of the army them, Bonifatius returned to his home headquarters. Their success did not turf in Africa and Castinus got a good demise after their deaths since Faustina I thrashing. was deified by the senate and a temple was To add to the possibilities, Bonifatius ROMAN HISTORY built in Rome to honour Faustina II. and the others like him had what looks Faustina II became also a fashion icon: like an almost personal retinue of troops FAUSTINA I AND II: IMPERIAL her hairstyle, as it appears on numerous (buccellarii), a situation making maverick WOMEN OF THE GOLDEN AGE, coins of that time, was imitated by many behaviour all the more possible and by Barbara M. Levick OUP (2014) women of the Severi. dangerous. When declared hostis publicus in h/b 248pp £41.99 Despite its brevity, this book would 427, he sends packing the Roman army (ISBN 9780195379419) be of great interest to readers and dispatched to Africa against him. Yet in students of Roman society, imperial 429 he invites Vandals from Spain to Despite the difficulty of unsatisfactory propaganda and gender studies. The book Africa to help him stabilise the place in sources and gender stereotypes, L. works has been meticulously edited and return for land, and found himself in a hard to offer to her readers a scrupulous equipped with several appendices and position not unlike that of Aethelred and revaluation of the lives of two imperial detailed notes. the Danes. Then in 432 he was recalled to women of the Antonine period: Faustina I Italy and given the exalted rank of magister (c. 97-140 AD), wife of the Roman Roberto Chiappiniello: St Mary’s School, militum. emperor Antoninus Pius, and her daughter Calne His behaviour seems to veer from Faustina II (130-175 AD), wife of Marcus great Roman true to Gallia Placidia, to Aurelius. L. studies and interprets a wide being one who will sell out his country’s range of sources and anecdotes attached THE LAST OF THE ROMANS: interests when it suits him. He is part to the names of the two Faustinas. BONIFATIUS-WARLORD AND product of his time, part initiator of late The central thesis of her book is that COMES AFRICAE by Jeroen W.P. antique warlordism. He’s certainly worth imperial women of the Antonine age Wijnendale Bloomsbury (2015) h/b the monograph, not least for the were a vital part of the imperial family’s 182pp £50 (ISBN9781780937175) frequent surprises; for instance, when we public face and dynasty. L. seeks to read Augustine’s letter to him explore, whenever possible, what kind of W. frets that Bonifatius has not been encouraging him not to become a monk role these two women had in the power properly recognised by historians ancient on the death of his wife, but to continue struggles between the members of the and modern. He sees reasons for doing what he did best as a warrior for imperial family and their court. The this—he’s rather a shadowy figure, and Rome! Antonines struggled hard to portray the source materials are thin, dodgy or The book is beautifully produced, themselves as the bastions of both. But is there room for him in our with text (121pp), timeline, and some enlightenment and imperial concordia and historical thinking when we have excellent notes. It is £50, but CA centred their propaganda (following in generalissimos like Belisarius, Stilicho members get 35% off the hardback, so it’s the footsteps of Augustus) on the ideal of Constantius, Aetius and Ricimer striding not inaccessible. But at that price one marital harmony. L. shows, with a great the late antique stage, exerting political would have expected proofing of a higher deal of evidence, how in less than a power way beyond their military titles? standard. Let me quote my favourite two century imperial women gained an Procopius puts Bonifatius together with typos: a sub heading Inbictissimo, and in a unprecedented power to influence both Aetius when he calls them ‘the last of the letter from Augustine, ‘prostated as I was military and political agenda. The two Romans’. But what precisely did he mean by bodily weakness’. Faustinae were prolific in providing their by that? And why, then, does Peter W. concludes that, whether or not the families with plenty of descendants Heather relegate Bonifatius to a footnote last of the Romans, Bonifatius may well (Faustina I had four children, Faustina II whilst endowing Aetius with more than have been the first western imperial at least twelve!) and they were as enough text? warlord. influential as Messalina or Agrippina in These generalissimos were leading or averting court intrigues. extraordinary people with huge Adrian Spooner

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep Book2021 atReviews 14:39:56, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at 51 https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 and Works, the Cultural climate in florentibus). In keeping with the style of ALEXANDER BARCLAY, THE Terence’s Time, Terence’s Prologues (in the series, there is more help with FAMOUS CRONYCLE OF THE which he defends his theatrical translation, references to OLD are WARRE WHICH THE ROMAYNS practices), Theatrical Conditions in included in the vocabulary help, and HAD AGAYNST IUGURTH, Terence’s Time, the Plot and Characters grammatical explanation improved, USURPER OF THE KYNGDOME of Phormio and its Greek Original, Metre though a thorough knowledge of basic OF NUMIDY, ed. by Greg Waite and Musical Accompaniment (where I syntax is assumed. Some notes are OUP (2014) h/b 361pp £65 (ISBN would like to have seen a little more shortened—on torrat (917) discussion of 9780199688197) about the Lex brevis brevians), and the conjecture based on synizesis is Terence’s Text (brief, as is nowadays the omitted—and others left out—on pocula One of the earliest translations of custom). There is happily nothing on (913) the earlier comment (‘they are at classical works in English, B’s Jugurtha ‘Reception’. There follows the text, with the maudlin stage’) has been dropped. appeared in print around 1522. B. hopes a brief apparatus criticus, translation, and Some of the updating is to aid clarity, that all readers ‘of whatsoever condicyon detailed commentary, in which the with reworked phraseology and and degree . . . shall fynde both profyte action is broken up into Acts and reshaped sentences, though there is and pleasure: if he rede it attentyfly’ but Scenes, as of course was not the Roman often new material, as in the note on O his main target audience are ‘gentylmen practice; en route, summaries of the plot (first word) where ‘the sonorous apt to attayne to glorious fame and are given. interjection matches the emotional tone honour by fayt of chyvalry’. The Any student faced with Phormio of the passage better than the prosaic translation is of its time: for example should buy this book, for it is hard to (indeed superfluous) preposition . . .’ ignarus belli (96.1 on the as yet think of any need which it will not fulfil conveys the impact of the word more inexperienced Sulla) becomes ‘ignorant of or question which it will not answer. This forcefully than before. the dedes of chiualrie’. Hardly a post-20th is one of the very best commentaries—of The first edition in its day was century version! B. also adds explanatory course, deliberately cast at a level that is accessible as an A Level text and saw material, incorporating ‘notes’ in the text. not so advanced as a ‘Green and sterling service, but now, if Lucretius is Thus nam is civis ex Latio erat (69.3 an Yellow’—that has come my way in recent set at AL again, editions such as John explanation of why Turpilius could be times: would that I had had access to such Godwin’s selections for BCP are more executed) is translated beginning ‘if this a commentary as an undergraduate! M. is likely to be used. For undergraduates, this Turpylius had ben a Romayn he shulde to be congratulated on a thoroughly is an ideal text offering a comprehensive nat have ben put to deth’ and so on for 5 satisfactory outcome to his labours, study of the philosophy, the rhetoric, the lines. Published for The Early English which, he tells us, occupied a long time. genre and not least the poetry along with Text Society and thus directed at English The wait was more than worthwhile, and a modicum of help with the language. scholars, this will also be a delight for the modest price is a bonus. Anyone teaching Book 3 definitely needs classicists with an interest in Sallust and the new edition at hand: even though K. his reception. It lives up to B.’s wish to Colin Leach worries that his revision may have lost the provide ‘profyte and pleasure.’ ‘brevity that comes close to wit’ (David West), his insights are still crisp, incisive LUCRETIUS, DE RERUM NATURA Alan Beale and illuminating. A ‘must’ for all BOOK 3, ed. by E.J. Kenney Lucretians, Epicureans and every nd CUP (2014 [2 ed.]) p/b 256pp university library. £19.99 (ISBN 9780521173896) LATIN LITERATURE Alan Beale The first edition appeared in 1971, since TERENCE: PHORMIO, ed. with when there has been much work on Introduction, Translation and Lucretius which K. summarises in a TACITUS, AGRICOLA, ed by A.J. Commentary by Robert Maltby Supplementary Introduction, though with Woodman with contributions from Aris & Phillips (2012) p/b 224pp specific focus on Book 3. The C.S. Kraus £19.99 (ISBN 9780856686078) introduction itself is for the most part CUP (2014) p/b 358pp £23.99 unchanged (updates appear in three (ISBN 9780521700290) Terence’s Phormio was adapted from a notes) but the section on the text has been play (Epidikazomenos) by Apollodorus of completely rewritten and the apparatus The commentary of Ogilvie and Carystus, of whom little is known; the criticus too has been revised. Richmond has been the first port of call Phormio of the title is a ‘parasite’— The notes are now more copious for those navigating the Agricola since its better, ‘scrounger’ or ‘hanger-on’—to and, to make room, less generously publication in 1967. Now W. has whom, rather as in Plautus, a good-sized spaced. Headwords are no longer at the produced a more detailed and up-to-date role is allotted. M.’s admirably full beginning of lines, but remain edition which should become essential introduction (26 pages) covers Greek distinctive in bold (not all: 898 praesidium reading for experienced students of New Comedy, Terence’s Roman is sensibly removed as a headword, and Tacitus’ work. It is more scholarly in Predecessors in Comedy, Terence’s Life included in the explanation of factis emphasis than some other ‘green and

Downloaded52 from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep 2021Book at 14:39:56 Reviews, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 yellows’ and the blurb rightly suggests it is figures with those of historical fact makes suitable for advanced undergraduates, THE ROMAN HANNIBAL: for satisfactory poetry, and the reputation graduate students and scholars. Remembering the Enemy in Silius of Silius has long been that summed up W. presents a more sophisticated Italicus’ Punica, by Claire Stocks by Pliny (scribebat carmina maiore cura quam understanding of the generic elements Liverpool University Press (2014) h/b ingenio), but that is in no way to diminish (history, geography, encomium, 276pp £71.87 (ISBN 9781781380284) S.’s scholarly achievement. It is a pity that biography), but the major shift in the book’s formidable cost will of emphasis, as one would expect from W., is Much has been done in the past half- necessity limit its market. Not one for the to see the work as a literary construct century, says S., to rehabilitate Silius, and schoolroom. rather than a factual account. The indeed a hero called Spaltenstein has problems of using literary texts as published a Commentary (in three Colin Leach ‘sources’ are highlighted in the volumes) on the entire opus—17 Books, introduction, particularly through focus 12,000 lines, the longest poem in Latin: on topoi, commonplaces, transferable FRAMING THE ASS: LITERARY even the Dindorfs must have raised a TEXTURE IN APULEIUS’ motifs or details used by earlier writers ghostly cheer. As the title implies, S.’s (Sallust, Livy et al.) and even the pattern METAMORPHOSES, work, which started as a PhD thesis at by S. J. Harrison of the narrative (Caesar’s BG in Cambridge, is ‘about Hannibal as he exists particular). W. bluntly states the OUP (2013) h/b 293pp £60 in Rome’s literature, the foreign foe in (ISBN 9780199602681) conclusion (not quite a reductio ad inopiam) recognisable form: this is the Hannibal on p.29: ‘we cannot tell what is literary that Rome built’. The eleven chapters from what is actual’. But W. is not include Before Silius: the Creation of the This book is a collection of essays on polemical. Even the imaginative ‘why not Roman Hannibal (including Polybius, Apuleius’ Metamorphoses published by suppose’ approach (p.5, that Tacitus’ Cicero, and Cornelius Nepos); Silius’ H. over the past 20 years. Individually, they military service was in a British legion) is Influences (Livy comes into his own); Epic (together with other publications by H.) gently dismissed with ‘however that may Models (Ennius, dealt with necessarily in have already made a major contribution to be’. The introduction has a brief section cursory fashion, Homer, and— the studies on this novel. Together, they on the manuscripts and a select apparatus obviously—Virgil), Hannibal’s decline after offer a multiplicity of views on the novel criticus accompanies the text which Cannae, including ‘Succumbing to luxury’, and show the emergence, in the course of contains a few emendations by W. himself, The ‘Lightning Bolts’ of War (enter Scipio), time, of one clear point of view in H.’s discussed in the commentary. and The Man and his Myth (including mind: the aim of the Metamorphoses is In the commentary major sections of ‘Choosing Hercules as a role model’). literary entertainment, ‘achieved not only the narrative have separate introductions. In sharp contradistinction to Lucan, through salacious and amusing content In keeping with the series’ style, much of Silius introduces mythical characters from and clever narrative structure but also Tacitus’ difficult phraseology is elucidated Homer and Virgil, and S. points out that through subtle intertextual interactions by translation and explanation of the any reading of Hannibal as Achilles is also with a range of literary and sub-literary grammar. W. pays constant attention to one of him as an Aeneas or Turnus in the traditions in both Latin and Greek, Tacitus’ style and use of language. His guise of another Achilles; he is also suitably adapted for a low-life and brief nod towards wordplay might delight likened to Hector, and even to Tydeus and sensationalist novelistic context’ (p. 242). some and worry others (one man’s Parthenopaeus: to what extent this is No summary of contents can be assonance is another man’s paronomasia), artificial (is Hannibal being made by the clearer than the one given by the author in but his analysis of stylistic and linguistic poet to resemble these heroes of past the introduction, where he contextualises features in the introduction and epics?) S. provides us with the evidence in every essay in terms of ideas that throughout the commentary will prove generous measure, with ample citations, generated it, scholarship he was drawing useful and often enlightening. W. offers in Latin, and occasional Greek, all fully on, and success enjoyed in the scholarly much more on the language of Tacitus. translated. The text is that of J. Delz for community. The hindsight allows the than O&R. For example in 41 he points to Teubner; S. appears to have made no use author a lucid opinion on his own material the echo of offensa virtutibus tempora (1.4) in of J.D. Duff ’s translation for the Loeb and its influence. The first part of the offensus virtutibus princeps (41.1) with the Library. book deals with some general features. subtle shift to make Domitian personally An Index Locorum of no fewer than The introduction and chapter 1 are most responsible. He notes the use of infensus 25 columns for Silius alone sufficiently useful tools to orientate oneself in the rather than infestus, discusses the use of attests to the dedicated work which has history of scholarship. Some chapters are vir, and one could add many more gone into this book. S.’s intention, which self-standing and look at the language (ch. examples where W. offers so much richer has been admirably fulfilled, was to guide 2), at the influence of Milesian Tales in a reading than O&R. Essential for the reader through a systematic terms of narrative framework and not just university libraries, this would also be consideration of the Roman Hannibal— of contents (ch. 3), and at the prologue, immensely useful to teachers to have as mediated, of course, not only in the with the ingenious identification of the access to if teaching this text. familiar prose of the historians but via the book itself as the speaker (ch. 4). The epic vision of Silius. Not everyone will other chapters (5, 6, 7) form a coherent Alan Beale feel that the mixture of mythological picture of the role of religion in the novel

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep Book2021 atReviews 14:39:56, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at 53 https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 as satirical. The second part of the book in the history of the philosophy of mind; relief is at hand: this new edition is a is occupied by sound textual analysis, yet he goes even further in his treatise On worthy replacement. where H. x-rays many passages and traces Sleep and makes explicit the way in which Many of the entries have been revised their models (mainly epic ones), this perceptual unity involves more than and expanded; 172 illustrations, many in demonstrating Apuleius’ learned imitation the special senses operating together. By the form of line-drawings of vase of illustrious predecessors and their recognising the problem of how we paintings by M.’s son-in-law, Neil Barrett, adaptation in a lower context for the sake perceive the sweetness and the whiteness enliven the text throughout. The merits of of entertainment. The Aeneid stands out of the milk (so-called cross-modal the first edition are not lost: it remains as a major intertext, together with Homer, binding) as well as then offering an concise and readable, and can usefully be the Odyssey in particular. The narrative of innovative solution, Aristotle emerges as a consulted by experts and learners, by Cupid and Psyche is given special philosopher of the first rank. teachers and pupils. The stories are consideration (chapters 10, 12, 15). H.’s The book also offers a useful survey authoritatively and, in places, brilliantly arguments are no-nonsense and presented of recent scholarship. The doctrine of the retold; cross-referencing is easily handled; clearly throughout. common sense is fiercely debated by many entries have additional Specialists will already know of H.’s Aristotelian scholars, and M. surveys bibliographies in which relevant classical contributions, but will benefit from various alternative interpretations and sources are given. These sources are looking at them diachronically as explains with precision how and why she sometimes discussed in the entries moments of the development of bigger disagrees with them. But M. is also themselves so, for instance, in ‘Oedipus’ lines of thought. Students of Classics will interested in what we can learn from the Homer, Sophocles and Seneca are find in this book many useful examples of study of Aristotle to help us deal with mentioned, as well as Corneille, Stravinsky, the sophistication of the Metamorphoses today’s concerns. She writes as a Cocteau, Freud and Pasolini in a last and obtain a good understanding of the philosopher rather than as a philologist, paragraph on ‘reception’. Also included in history of its scholarship. and her attempt to resolve the question some of the longer entries are translations takes us into the heart of contemporary from the sources, especially Homer and Nicolò D’Alconzo: Swansea University metaphysics. For readers like myself not the tragedians. There are additional well versed in these debates, this is appendices, four of which were in the first certainly a challenge but she writes with edition: maps, genealogical tables, a list of admirable clarity, unlike Aristotle. In the classical authors and a select bibliography PHILOSOPHY process she offers at almost every turn (latest entry—2013); the index of place bold claims and radical reinterpretations. names has gone, perhaps regrettably, but ARISTOTLE ON PERCEIVING This is a book that can be recommended the two new additions are a list of the OBJECTS, by Anna Marmodoro to Classics departments unreservedly. illustrations and a very useful ‘List of OUP (2014) h/b 291pp £47.99 Recurrent Motifs’—so for Parricide you (ISBN 9780199326006) Alan Towey: Holmewold House School may go to , Haemon, Jason, Jocasta, Laius, Medea, Oedipus, Pelias, The question this book addresses is a Phoenix (3), Sphinx and Temenus (2). simple one. Aristotle’s account of Oxbow Books are to be perception describes five senses, each of MYTH congratulated on bringing this book back which is receptive of a different range of into print, as are M. and her son-in-law perceptible qualities. Sight perceives DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL for breathing new life into it. I can heartily colours, hearing perceives sounds and so MYTHOLOGY, by Jenny March recommend it and predict that it will have on. But when we perceive, we are not Oxbow (2014) p/b 528pp £29.95 a long and fruitful life. limited in this way. We typically think of (ISBN 9781782976356) ourselves as perceiving objects: we see the Stephen Chambers: Balliol College, Oxford sun set, we hear the train arrive, and we The first edition of this dictionary smell the turkey cooking. We are aware of appeared in 1998 as The Cassell Dictionary the sweetness and the whiteness of the of and was very well EARLY GREEK milk as we drink it. How then did received (e.g. Goldhill in TLS ‘. . . is MYTHOGRAPHY—VOLUME 2: Aristotle account for all this? exemplary, indeed the best I have COMMENTARY, The short answer is the common consulted . . . clearly and engagingly by Robert L. Fowler sense, which is not a sixth sense but a unity written . . . it not only gives reliable OUP (2013) h/b 825pp £160.00 that emerges when the five senses are answers but also encourages reading on.’). (ISBN 9780198147411) operative. M. develops this answer over I imagine that most Classics departments the course of the book relying as much on and school libraries have a copy, but I RATIONALIZING MYTH IN lesser studied texts in the Parva Naturalia as suspect that in its chunky paperback form ANTIQUITY, by Greta Hawes on the more familiar texts of the De (2001) it may be showing signs of wear OUP (2014) h/b 279pp £60.00 Anima. She presents Aristotle as a pioneer: and tear as the strain of holding over 800 (ISBN 9780199672776) his extension of his theory of substance pages together proves too much. If that is to provide a model for the unity of the case, or if you are just looking for a These two books cover a lot of authors perceptual experience is itself a milestone brighter, bolder book for the shelves, then who are unfamiliar to most members of

Downloaded54 from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep 2021Book at 14:39:56 Reviews, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 CA, I suspect; their purchase would be a F. touches on the subject of H.’s in our lifetime taking on the subject in special indulgence for a department or book in his Introduction (p xv): the such a comprehensive and entertaining library unless some very scholarly work is rationalization of the myths by people way, but they are not cheap and they do being conducted by teachers or pupils. I like Hekataios and Pherekydes. The not cover areas familiar from UK think that the general reader would indeed mythic rationalisation or rationalistic syllabuses. These would help support an find some interesting material in both interpretation of the Greek myths was ambitious extended essay, dissertation or books, but there would be a lot of the subject of H.’s Bristol PhD thesis, thesis, but not regular classroom work. technical and esoteric sections to be which has evolved into this book. Her worked through as well. book is not a comprehensive study of Stephen Chambers: Balliol College, The first volume (Text and Greek myth in its entirety, but the Oxford Introduction) of F.’s monumental study questioning approach to it by writers of the early Greek mythographers from the fourth century BC onwards— appeared in 2000. I was able to borrow a looking for truthfulness in the stories copy from a friend and am grateful that I and challenging or explaining perceived CLASSICAL TRADITION did, because it helped me, through untruths. After a really useful cross-referencing, to appreciate the Introduction in which the origins and ANTIGONE ON THE merits of Volume 2. It would appear limits of rationalistic interpretation are CONTEMPORARY WORLD from the many citations in H.’s book that explored, H. examines the works of six STAGE, ed. by Erin B. Mee and it has now become the standard reference authors, only two of whom to my shame Helene P. Foley work in the field. The first volume had I previously read: Plutarch (his Life OUP (2011) h/b 469pp £93 collects the Testimonia and Fragmenta of 29 of Theseus) and Pausanias’ Perigesis. Three (ISBN 9780199586196) authors in alphabetical order, from of the remaining authors’ work are called Acusilas Argeus to Xenomedes Ceus. Peri Apiston (‘On Incredible Tales’)—one This edited volume propels the trans- The second volume has two distinct anonymous, the others Palaephatus and historical and political nature of the parts, one 600 pages long, the other 130. Heraclitus (not that Heraclitus, but an Sophoclean text and antiquity to the There is firstly a Mythological otherwise unknown early Imperial modern era of politicised concern. M. Commentary, in which the twenty writer); the last text covered, known and F. have drawn together the best of sections starting, with ‘Theogony’ and from epitomes in Photius, is Conon’s modern reception studies such as Hall, ending with ‘The Migrations’ and ‘Other Diegesis. Treu, Hardwick, van Steen, Ziter et al., Fragments’, deal with the different Familiar stories appear in discussions offering a primary stage for theorising and versions of (mostly) familiar stories; of unfamiliar texts: e.g. the Minotaur in confirming reception studies as a genuine there are references both to the Palaephatus’ and Anonymous’ Peri discipline within the study of Classics. fragmentary authors of Volume 1 and to Apiston, as well as Plutarch. The different The latter is successfully achieved by major authors of the classical canon. It is ways in which the incredible aspects of analysing the representation and themes a treasure trove of information, and a the story are explained makes for of the ancient text and noting its serious student of the Greek myths will interesting reading, for instance using relevance not only to any given era, but find much scattered knowledge gathered Aristotelian principles to disprove the fundamentally to any given global helpfully in one place. If you are possible existence of hybrid creatures and community and cultural framework (USA, confronted by a student’s insistent the repeated version of the story which Japan, India, Indonesia, Poland, Turkey, interrogation—’But where does this has Pasiphae having an affair with a local Ireland and Argentina—to cite a few). story come from?’ or ‘Why are there two sculptor while he was working on ‘a very What else this book offers, through the versions of X or Y’s birth/death/ beautiful statue of a cow’ (translation of lens of Antigone as both a text and labours?’—there is now a place to go to the Anonymous Peri Apiston in Appendix character, is the collective consciousness find an answer. I enjoyed many of the 1). For my part, I liked the chapters on the and the visual need through performance discussions and learned a lot about, for authors already familiar to me: the one on to advocate human concerns, ranging instance, the Local Histories (§ 17). Plutarch covers a lot of ground, including across human rights, political disquiet The second part contains a material on the parallel life of Romulus or—indeed—revolution. In short, the Philological Commentary on the same 29 and the historiographical difficulties of book lands a lot of hard-hitting punches authors, though this time they run from handling material from the furthest past. which will induce a reflective response Aethlios to Xenomedes, the Latinate In the Pausanias chapter (a further from its reader. spellings having been Hellenised; I have addition to the growing bibliography on The book is divided into eight to say that personal interest meant that this author) H. takes on Veyne (Did the principal chapter headers: i) Antigone in this section appealed to me less, but this is Greeks believe their myths?) and explains how antiquity, ii) an ancient Greek play, iii) where you will find information about the she sees the flaws in his arguments (too cultural and political freedom, iv) writers themselves, such as exists. If it narrow an emphasis on isolated passages, Antigone and human rights, v) individual does not seem likely that the budget will insufficient account taken of the larger versus collective, vi) Antigone as stretch to buying this, look out for the context, etc). dissident, vii) cultural memory, and viii) annotated edition of a translated selection Both these books contain really Sophocles versus Anouilh. Within these of the fragments, which F. promises in his useful and interesting material, and in the thematic headers is the disproportionate Preface. case of F. it is hard to see another author sharing of 22 articles e.g. only one from

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.58, on 25 Sep Book2021 atReviews 14:39:56, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at 55 https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2058631015000112 Edith Hall and more from Mee, disruption into a sarcastic, manipulative For G. has created a wildly improbable Fradinger, Chang and Gillitt. mastery of the classroom. Some foil for plot which is held together with The intended audience for this book the inexperienced and somewhat feckless impeccable comic logic even though it is difficult to determine. Initial response Charles Goldforbes, the new Latin takes the protagonists from S.W. London would be university undergraduates, teacher at Rydon Hall, and hero (if such a into the heart of darkest Africa where the students of reception and scholars alike. word can be applied to him) of G’s first Arab Spring is beginning and western But perhaps this is taking the wrong novel! The cast of supporting characters hostages are an attractive source of approach, as this book would appeal to are endearingly batty, blessed with comic revenue for the rebels in Smilia (sic). The the dramatists looking for directional foibles or endowed with less comfortable book ‘sets out to make people laugh’ as G. approach, anthropologists and quirks—promiscuity, Tourette’s, or a declares in his Apologia for using this ethnographers, and mutually to those malodorous skin condition for example. barely disguised name, and in this he investigating global insights. The school setting is handled with a certainly succeeds through character, plot To say that this book would be no professional insider’s knowledge and and a wicked use of both Latin and value at school level would be to deprive a should bring a frequent smile, laugh or Classical Civilisation. Do read it, but be whole sector of the richness and grimace to any teacher’s face when careful it doesn’t fall into the wrong Y8 academic rigour that this book has to confronted with the inept management or hands—they might get ideas! offer. It would be for the teacher to filter the idiosyncratic ethos of the school and and distil some of the complexities of the especially its shameless attempt to exploit Alan Beale book, and this can be readily achieved by media attention that leads to the tragi- the visual aids that the book has to offer. comic denouement. The sexual humour generated by Charles’ infatuation with Sam Newington: University of Aberdeen Florian’s mother is both farcical, especially where Aristophanes is put to good use, and rather sad in that it is firstly acutely NOVELS embarrassing but ultimately demeaning. Much of the book has a similar dark RYDON HALL, by Alexander Games element to the humour since the Heddon Publishing (2014) p/b 282pp characters display an array of £8.99; Kindle £3.08 inadequacies. (ISBN 9781500537357) One of Charles’ weaknesses is his prejudice against Classical Civilisation which he treats with dismissive arrogance Florian Bavington, Year 8 pupil and until ... well, let us not reveal too much. monster, has refined the art of low-level

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