Ancient & Classical in Literary Theory & Criticism & Fiction & Literature eBooks

Penelope’s Bones

A New History of Homer’s World through the Women Written Out of It

by Emily Hauser ...

Weaving together literary and archaeological evidence, Emily Hauser illuminates the rich, intriguing lives of the real women behind Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores ... Read more

$2.99 USD

Weaving together literary and archaeological evidence, Emily Hauser illuminates the rich, intriguing lives of the real women behind Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores
... Read more
Eros the Bittersweet

by Anne Carson ...

Series series Dalkey Archive Essentials
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all timeA book about romantic love, Eros the Bittersweet is Anne Carson's exploration of the concept of "eros" in both classical philosophy and literature. Beginning with, "It was Sappho who first called eros 'bittersweet.' No one who has been in love disputes her," Carson examines her subject from numerous points of view, ... Read more

$12.99 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all timeA book about romantic love, Eros the Bittersweet is Anne Carson's exploration of the concept of "eros" in both classical philosophy and literature. Beginning with, "It was Sappho who first called eros 'bittersweet.' No one who has been in love disputes her," Carson examines her subject from numerous points of view,
... Read more
Talking Classics

The Shock of the Old

by Mary Beard ...

The incomparable Mary Beard is back, and she’s talking all things classics.Why the ongoing fascination with the ancient world? This witty, approachable book asks why—for better or (sometimes) worse—antiquity continues to exert such a powerful hold on the contemporary imagination. Recalling a formative childhood encounter with a four-thousand-year-old piece of bread in a museum, Beard introduces ... Read more

$8.99 USD

The incomparable Mary Beard is back, and she’s talking all things classics.Why the ongoing fascination with the ancient world? This witty, approachable book asks why—for better or (sometimes) worse—antiquity continues to exert such a powerful hold on the contemporary imagination. Recalling a formative childhood encounter with a four-thousand-year-old piece of bread in a museum, Beard introduces
... Read more
The Masnavi, Book Five

by Jalal al-Din Rumi, Jawid Mojaddedi ...

Series Book 5 - Oxford World's Classics
'If something else can capture your attention Then it's not love, but just a trivial passion - Love is that flame which, once it blazes up, Burns everything but the Beloved up.' This is the first ever translation of the entirety of Book Five of Rumi's magnum opus, The Masnavi, into English. Prior to this verse translation in heroic couplets, translations were either of selected passages or in ... Read more

$8.99 USD

'If something else can capture your attention Then it's not love, but just a trivial passion - Love is that flame which, once it blazes up, Burns everything but the Beloved up.' This is the first ever translation of the entirety of Book Five of Rumi's magnum opus, The Masnavi, into English. Prior to this verse translation in heroic couplets, translations were either of selected passages or in
... Read more
The Masnavi, Book Six

by Jalal al-Din Rumi, Jawid Mojaddedi ...

Series Book 6 - Oxford World's Classics
'Until effaced no one can actually Enter the Court of Holy Majesty. What is the meaning of the heavenly ascension? Non-being: the mystics' law school and religion.' Rumi is the greatest mystic poet to have written in Persian, and The Masnavi is his masterpiece. Divided into six books and consisting of some 26,000 verses, the poem was designed to convey teachings about divine love and unity to the ... Read more

$10.99 USD

'Until effaced no one can actually Enter the Court of Holy Majesty. What is the meaning of the heavenly ascension? Non-being: the mystics' law school and religion.' Rumi is the greatest mystic poet to have written in Persian, and The Masnavi is his masterpiece. Divided into six books and consisting of some 26,000 verses, the poem was designed to convey teachings about divine love and unity to the
... Read more
The Geography of the Imagination

Forty Essays

by Guy Davenport ...

Series Book 10 - Nonpareil Books
“One of the most sinuous stylists and searching minds of the twentieth century.”—Washington PostForty essays on history, art, and literature to lift your mind and spirit. Guy Davenport serves as the reader’s guide through history and literature, providing links between music and sculpture, modernist poets and classic philosophers, the past and present—pointing out the values and avenues of thought ... Read more

$9.99 USD

“One of the most sinuous stylists and searching minds of the twentieth century.”—Washington PostForty essays on history, art, and literature to lift your mind and spirit. Guy Davenport serves as the reader’s guide through history and literature, providing links between music and sculpture, modernist poets and classic philosophers, the past and present—pointing out the values and avenues of thought
... Read more
Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 1) (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. Ancient Greek Classics in Epic, Lyric, Drama, History, Philosophy, and Myth

by Herodotus, Sappho, Homer, Hesiod, Alcaeus, Archilochus, Anacreon, Theognis of Megara, Simonides of Ceos, Bacchylides, Pindar0, Aeschylus1, Sophocles2, Euripides3, Aristophanes4, Thucydides5, Plato6, Aristotle7, Lysias8, Demosthenes9, Apollonius0, Callimachus1, Theocritus2, Plutarch3, Epictetus4, Gilbert Murray5, Ronan Brantwell8 ...

Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 1) gathers a foundational arc of Greek literature, philosophy, history, and drama, tracing the imaginative and intellectual inheritance of the ancient Mediterranean. Its range extends from epic and lyric song to tragedy, comedy, historiography, oratory, pastoral poetry, biography, and ethical reflection. Landmark works associated with the Homeric ... Read more

$2.99 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 1) gathers a foundational arc of Greek literature, philosophy, history, and drama, tracing the imaginative and intellectual inheritance of the ancient Mediterranean. Its range extends from epic and lyric song to tragedy, comedy, historiography, oratory, pastoral poetry, biography, and ethical reflection. Landmark works associated with the Homeric
... Read more
The Cambridge Companion to Bede

Edited by Scott DeGregorio ...

Series series Cambridge Companions to Literature
As the major writer and thinker of the Anglo-Saxon period, the Venerable Bede is a key figure in the study of the literature and thought of this time. This Companion, written by an international team of specialists, is a key introductory guide to Bede, his writings, and his world. The first part of the volume focuses on Bede's cultural and intellectual milieu, covering his life, the secular ... Read more

$28.99 USD

As the major writer and thinker of the Anglo-Saxon period, the Venerable Bede is a key figure in the study of the literature and thought of this time. This Companion, written by an international team of specialists, is a key introductory guide to Bede, his writings, and his world. The first part of the volume focuses on Bede's cultural and intellectual milieu, covering his life, the secular
... Read more
Discourses and Selected Writings

by Epictetus ...

Translated by Robert Dobbin ...

Contains The Discourses/Fragments/Enchiridion'I must die. But must I die bawling?'Epictetus, a Greek Stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicopolis in the early second century AD. His animated discussions were celebrated for their rhetorical wizardry and were written down by Arrian, his most famous pupil. The Discourses argue that happiness lies in learning to perceive ... Read more

$11.99 USD

Contains The Discourses/Fragments/Enchiridion'I must die. But must I die bawling?'Epictetus, a Greek Stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicopolis in the early second century AD. His animated discussions were celebrated for their rhetorical wizardry and were written down by Arrian, his most famous pupil. The Discourses argue that happiness lies in learning to perceive
... Read more
The Consolation of Philosophy

by Anicius Boethius ...

Boethius was an eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric, and an exceptional Greek scholar. When he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in Pavia, it was to the Greek philosophers that he turned. THE CONSOLATION was written in the period leading up to his brutal execution. It is a dialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and his 'nurse' ... Read more

$11.99 USD

Boethius was an eminent public figure under the Gothic emperor Theodoric, and an exceptional Greek scholar. When he became involved in a conspiracy and was imprisoned in Pavia, it was to the Greek philosophers that he turned. THE CONSOLATION was written in the period leading up to his brutal execution. It is a dialogue of alternating prose and verse between the ailing prisoner and his 'nurse'
... Read more
The Last Days of Socrates

by Plato, Christopher Rowe ...

Translated by Christopher Rowe ...

Euthyphro/Apology/Crito/Phaedo'Nothing can harm a good man either in life or after death'The trial and condemnation of Socrates on charges of heresy and corrupting young minds is a defining moment in the history of classical Athens. In tracing these events through four dialogues, Plato also developed his own philosophy of a life guided by self-responsibility. Euthyphro finds Socrates outside the ... Read more

$11.99 USD

Euthyphro/Apology/Crito/Phaedo'Nothing can harm a good man either in life or after death'The trial and condemnation of Socrates on charges of heresy and corrupting young minds is a defining moment in the history of classical Athens. In tracing these events through four dialogues, Plato also developed his own philosophy of a life guided by self-responsibility. Euthyphro finds Socrates outside the
... Read more
Shakespeare and the Folktale

An Anthology of Stories

Edited by Charlotte Artese ...

An international collection of the traditional tales that inspired some of Shakespeare's greatest playsShakespeare knew a good story when he heard one, and he wasn't afraid to borrow from what he heard or read, especially traditional folktales. The Merchant of Venice, for example, draws from "A Pound of Flesh," while King Lear begins in the same way as "Love Like Salt," with a king asking his ... Read more

$14.99 USD

An international collection of the traditional tales that inspired some of Shakespeare's greatest playsShakespeare knew a good story when he heard one, and he wasn't afraid to borrow from what he heard or read, especially traditional folktales. The Merchant of Venice, for example, draws from "A Pound of Flesh," while King Lear begins in the same way as "Love Like Salt," with a king asking his
... Read more
Mere Christianity

by C. S. Lewis ...

"In a world torn apart by conflicting beliefs and values, one question echoes through the ages: What is the essence of Christianity? Join renowned author and theologian C.S. Lewis on a profound journey of discovery, as he explores the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. First delivered as a series of radio talks during World War II, "Mere Christianity" is a timeless masterpiece that ... Read more

$0.99 USD

"In a world torn apart by conflicting beliefs and values, one question echoes through the ages: What is the essence of Christianity? Join renowned author and theologian C.S. Lewis on a profound journey of discovery, as he explores the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. First delivered as a series of radio talks during World War II, "Mere Christianity" is a timeless masterpiece that
... Read more
Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea

Journeys Through Ancient Literature

by Emily Wilson ...

**INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"An enthralling and profoundly relevant book." —Salman Rushdie"I adored reading these joyful, illuminating, and engrossing journeys through ancient literature." —Madeline MillerMost Anticipated Books of Fall: Goodreads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus ReviewsFrom the most celebrated translator of our time comes a visionary exploration of how translation reshapes and ... Read more

$13.99 USD

**INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"An enthralling and profoundly relevant book." —Salman Rushdie"I adored reading these joyful, illuminating, and engrossing journeys through ancient literature." —Madeline MillerMost Anticipated Books of Fall: Goodreads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus ReviewsFrom the most celebrated translator of our time comes a visionary exploration of how translation reshapes and
... Read more
The Power of Myth

by Joseph Campbell, Bill Moyers ...

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An extraordinary book that reveals how the themes and symbols of ancient narratives continue to bring meaning to birth, death, love, and war.“Campbell has become the rarest of intellectuals in American life: a serious thinker who has been embraced by the popular culture.”—NewsweekThe Power of Myth launched an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Joseph Campbell and his ... Read more

$9.99 USD

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An extraordinary book that reveals how the themes and symbols of ancient narratives continue to bring meaning to birth, death, love, and war.“Campbell has become the rarest of intellectuals in American life: a serious thinker who has been embraced by the popular culture.”—NewsweekThe Power of Myth launched an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Joseph Campbell and his
... Read more
Humanism and the Revival of Classical Learning: The Catalyst for Renaissance Religious Thought

by Benjamin Shaw ...

This groundbreaking study traces the transformative power of Renaissance humanism in reshaping religious thought and practice across Europe. Centered on the principle of ad fontes—a passionate return to the original sources—humanists revived the languages, texts, and moral philosophies of classical antiquity, sparking a profound renewal in biblical scholarship, theological inquiry, and devotional ... Read more

$2.99 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

This groundbreaking study traces the transformative power of Renaissance humanism in reshaping religious thought and practice across Europe. Centered on the principle of ad fontes—a passionate return to the original sources—humanists revived the languages, texts, and moral philosophies of classical antiquity, sparking a profound renewal in biblical scholarship, theological inquiry, and devotional
... Read more
Gilgamesh

A New Verse Translation

A propulsive and lyrical version of ancient Mesopotamia’s greatest adventure–tale, by the bestselling translator of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.Originating nearly four thousand years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, the epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a tyrannical king and his wild counterpart, Enkidu, spawned by the gods to rein in the king’s cruel tendencies. They face off in a violent ... Read more

$17.99 USD

A propulsive and lyrical version of ancient Mesopotamia’s greatest adventure–tale, by the bestselling translator of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.Originating nearly four thousand years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, the epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a tyrannical king and his wild counterpart, Enkidu, spawned by the gods to rein in the king’s cruel tendencies. They face off in a violent
... Read more
Monstrous Tales

Stories of Strange Creatures and Fearsome Beasts from around the World

Monstrous Tales is a collection of traditional folktales about bewitching and bloodthirsty creatures.Translated and transcribed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these tales celebrate the diversity of—and surprising resonances among—folklore traditions around the world.Welcome to a world of magical adventure: a mysterious wolf pursues a bridegroom through a dark forest, a princess is ... Read more

$1.99 USD

Monstrous Tales is a collection of traditional folktales about bewitching and bloodthirsty creatures.Translated and transcribed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these tales celebrate the diversity of—and surprising resonances among—folklore traditions around the world.Welcome to a world of magical adventure: a mysterious wolf pursues a bridegroom through a dark forest, a princess is
... Read more
Helen of Troy

Beauty, Myth, Devastation

by Ruby Blondell ...

Ancient Greek culture is pervaded by a profound ambivalence regarding female beauty. It is an awe-inspiring, supremely desirable gift from the gods, essential to the perpetuation of a man's name through reproduction; yet it also grants women terrifying power over men, posing a threat inseparable from its allure. The myth of Helen is the central site in which the ancient Greeks expressed and ... Read more

$24.99 USD

Ancient Greek culture is pervaded by a profound ambivalence regarding female beauty. It is an awe-inspiring, supremely desirable gift from the gods, essential to the perpetuation of a man's name through reproduction; yet it also grants women terrifying power over men, posing a threat inseparable from its allure. The myth of Helen is the central site in which the ancient Greeks expressed and
... Read more
Republic

by Robin Waterfield ...

Series series Oxford World's Classics
Republic is the central work of the Western world's most famous philosopher. Essentially an inquiry into morality, Republic also contains crucial arguments and insights into many other areas of philosophy. It is also a literary masterpiece: the philosophy is presented for the most part for the ordinary reader, who is carried along by the wit and intensity of the dialogue and by Plato's ... Read more

$5.99 USD

Republic is the central work of the Western world's most famous philosopher. Essentially an inquiry into morality, Republic also contains crucial arguments and insights into many other areas of philosophy. It is also a literary masterpiece: the philosophy is presented for the most part for the ordinary reader, who is carried along by the wit and intensity of the dialogue and by Plato's
... Read more
Horace and Me

Life Lessons from an Ancient Poet

by Harry Eyres ...

A wise and witty revival of the Roman poet who taught us how to carpe diemWhat is the value of the durable at a time when the new is paramount? How do we fill the void created by the excesses of a superficial society? What resources can we muster when confronted by the inevitability of death? For the poet and critic Harry Eyres, we can begin to answer these questions by turning to an unexpected ... Read more

$0.99 USD

A wise and witty revival of the Roman poet who taught us how to carpe diemWhat is the value of the durable at a time when the new is paramount? How do we fill the void created by the excesses of a superficial society? What resources can we muster when confronted by the inevitability of death? For the poet and critic Harry Eyres, we can begin to answer these questions by turning to an unexpected
... Read more
Turning Away

The Poetics of an Ancient Gesture

by Benjamin A. Saltzman ...

Series series Thinking Literature
A sweeping account of how we are at our most human when we turn away from the pains of the world.Why do we look away from the suffering of others? Why do we cover our faces in shame? Why do we lower our heads in grief? Few gestures are as universal as the averted gaze. Fewer still are as ambivalent and inscrutable. In this incisive study, Benjamin A. Saltzman reveals how the kaleidoscopic ... Read more

$21.99 USD

A sweeping account of how we are at our most human when we turn away from the pains of the world.Why do we look away from the suffering of others? Why do we cover our faces in shame? Why do we lower our heads in grief? Few gestures are as universal as the averted gaze. Fewer still are as ambivalent and inscrutable. In this incisive study, Benjamin A. Saltzman reveals how the kaleidoscopic
... Read more
Otherworld

Nine Tales of Wonder and Romance from Medieval Ireland

by Lisa M. Bitel ...

Nine tales of early Irish literature beautifully retold in a modern, evocative style A mysterious woman appears nightly at the bedside of a prince and sings to him until he falls sick with love for her. A determined hero tracks his beloved through several incarnations, struggling to win her back. A young warrior seeks a woman who turns into a swan. These are the plots of little-known, anonymous ... Read more

$16.99 USD

Nine tales of early Irish literature beautifully retold in a modern, evocative style A mysterious woman appears nightly at the bedside of a prince and sings to him until he falls sick with love for her. A determined hero tracks his beloved through several incarnations, struggling to win her back. A young warrior seeks a woman who turns into a swan. These are the plots of little-known, anonymous
... Read more
The Pregnant Male as Myth and Metaphor in Classical Greek Literature

by David D. Leitao ...

This book traces the image of the pregnant male in Greek literature as it evolved over the course of the classical period. The image - as deployed in myth and in metaphor - originated as a representation of paternity and, by extension, 'authorship' of ideas, works of art, legislation, and the like. Only later, with its reception in philosophy in the early fourth century, did it also become a way ... Read more

$51.99 USD

This book traces the image of the pregnant male in Greek literature as it evolved over the course of the classical period. The image - as deployed in myth and in metaphor - originated as a representation of paternity and, by extension, 'authorship' of ideas, works of art, legislation, and the like. Only later, with its reception in philosophy in the early fourth century, did it also become a way
... Read more

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