Description
Cynthia
Book summary
This work offers an in-depth and detailed study of the figure of Cynthia, the muse and subject of the love poetry of the Latin poet Propertius. The author, Gauthier Liberman, presents an introduction and comprehensive commentary that are the result of over a decade of academic research and reflection. The reader will find a rigorous analysis of the texts, framed within the tradition of textual criticism and literary exegesis, which allows for a renewed understanding of one of the most iconic poetic collections in Latin literature.
What is it about?
The book focuses on the study of Propertius' monobiblos, the first book of his elegies, dedicated almost exclusively to his beloved Cynthia. The work is not a simple critical edition, but a commentary born from the author's teaching experience in university seminars and lectures delivered in Europe and other continents. Throughout its pages, the textual, metrical, and thematic complexities of the poems are unraveled, offering the specialized reader an erudite guide to interpreting the nuances of Propertian poetry. Issues of ecdotics (textual criticism) are addressed, and the most relevant variants and readings are discussed, the fruit of an academic dialogue maintained with colleagues and students over the years.
Main themes
- Philological analysis and commentary on the poetic work of Propertius, with special attention to his first book of elegies.
- Textual criticism and ecdotics applied to ancient Latin texts, including the discussion of variants and the establishment of the text.
- Interpretation of the figure of Cynthia as a muse and object of romantic desire in Latin elegiac poetry.
- Methodology of philological research and the transmission of classical texts.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at classical philologists, Latinists, researchers in ancient literature, and advanced undergraduate or graduate students working with Latin poetry. It is also of great interest to those specializing in textual criticism and ecdotics who are looking for a detailed example of analysis applied to a specific poetic corpus. A solid knowledge of the Latin language is required to fully benefit from the content of the commentary.
What this book contributes
- A comprehensive and updated commentary on the monobiblos of Propertius, the fruit of a long research trajectory.
- A critical perspective that integrates international academic debate on the textual and interpretive problems of the work.
- Methodological tools for the philological analysis of Latin texts, useful for both research and university teaching.
- An original contribution to Propertian studies, enriching the understanding of one of the fundamental poets of the Augustan period.
Technical sheet
- Author: Liberman, Gauthier
- Publisher: University of Huelva
- Language: French
- Topic: Literature: history and criticism, Literary studies: poetry and poets
- Collection: Huelva Classical Monographs. Exemplaria
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: December 2020
- Number of pages: 402
- Weight: 994 g
Editorial assessment
This is a highly specialized work that stands out for its academic rigor and the depth of its analysis. The author's trajectory and the long gestation period of the commentary guarantee a mature and well-founded treatment of the subject. For the target audience (researchers and advanced students of classical philology), this book represents an indispensable reference tool and a significant contribution to the field of Propertian studies and Latin textual criticism.