Space in Ancient Greek Literature—Studies in Ancient Greek Narrative

This collection of 29 essays systematically explores the use of space in Ancient Greek literature. In his editorial introduction, de Jong explains that "space here is understood in the wide sense of setting of the action of a story, other localities that are referred to, e.g. in memories or dreams, and objects ('props')." Some specific themes include geography and landscape, cosmology, the public and private, urbanity, staged performance, empire, and political geography. The essays are organized into eight sections on major genres: epic and elegiac poetry, historiography, choral lyric, drama, oratory, philosophy, biography, and the novel. Each essay focuses on a particular author with the exception of one on the Homeric hymns. Examples include: Herodotus, Plato, Plutarch, Josephus, Longus, Euripedes, Xenophon and others. A noteworthy exception is Hesiod.This is the third volume of Studies in Ancient Greek Literature; the first two concern narration and time. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Irene J.F. de Jong is professor of Ancient Greek at the University of Amsterdam. She has published widely on ancient Greek narrative, especially Homer, the Homeric Hymns, Herodotus, lyric, and drama. Publications include A Narratological Commentary on the Odyssey (2001) and Homer Iliad 22: a Commentary (2012).