The World's Oldest Literature—Studies in Sumerian Belles-Lettres

Hallo's scholarship on Ancient Near Eastern literature spans nearly half a century and is well-represented in the 50 previously published articles collected in this volume, dating from 1962-2006. Readers will note the development of the topics, as the articles in each of the ten sections are presented chronologically. Original texts are reproduced within the articles, many with English translations, reflecting Hallo's long held position as curator of the Yale Babylonian Collection of cuneiform tablets (where he is now emeritus). Many of the section topics feature different types of writings, such as royal correspondence, hymns, proverbs, myths and epics, incantations, and letter-prayers. Other section topics include programmatics, historiography, and Sumerian literature and the Bible. Peter Machinist and Piotr Michalowski provide a useful introduction to the volume, situating Hallo's work within the context of his career and the scholarship of his time. The volume also includes seven indexes: by title of original text of biblical and rabbinical work, by title of other works, by subject, personal name, divine name, geographic name, and Akkadian and Sumerian word. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

William W. Hallo is the William M. Laffan Professor of Assyriology and Babylonian Literature Emeritus and former Curator of the Babylonian collection at Yale University.