The Lives of the Greek Poets

The Lives of the Greek Poets
Author: Mary R. Lefkowitz
Publisher: JHU Press
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2012-04-02
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1421404648

Renowned scholar Mary R. Lefkowitz has extensively revised and rewritten her 1981 classic to introduce a new generation of students to the lives of the Greek poets. Thoroughly updated with references to the most recent scholarship, this second edition includes new material and fresh analysis of the ancient biographies of Greece's most famous poets. With little or no independent historical information to draw on, ancient writers searched for biographical data in the poets’ own works and in comic poetry about them. Lefkowitz describes how biographical mythology was created, and she offers a sympathetic account of how individual biographers reconstructed the poets’ lives. She argues that the life stories of Greek poets, even though primarily fictional, still merit close consideration, as they provide modern readers with insight into ancient notions about the creative process and the purpose of poetic composition. Accessible to students and readers unfamiliar with ancient Greece as well as to scholars, this comprehensive and compelling study includes translations of the original biographies of seven of ancient Greece’s most storied poets.

The Lives of the Greek Poets

The Lives of the Greek Poets
Author: Mary R. Lefkowitz
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2013-03-14
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 1472503074

Mary R. Lefkowitz has extensively revised and rewritten her classic study to introduce a new generation of students to the lives of the Greek poets. Thoroughly updated with references to the most recent scholarship, this second edition includes new material and fresh analysis of the ancient biographies of Greece's most famous poets. With little or no independent historical information to draw on, ancient writers searched for biographical data in the poets' own works and in comic poetry about them. Lefkowitz describes how biographical mythology was created and offers a sympathetic account of how individual biographers reconstructed the poets' lives. She argues that the life stories of Greek poets, even though primarily fictional, still merit close consideration, as they provide modern readers with insight into ancient notions about the creative process and the purpose of poetic composition.

The First Poets

The First Poets
Author: Michael Schmidt
Publisher: Vintage
Total Pages: 697
Release: 2010-04-07
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0307556174

A dazzling literary exploration by acclaimed poet and critic Michael Schmidt, The First Poets brings to life for the general reader the great Greek poets who gave our poetic tradition its first bearings and whose works have had an enduring influence on our literature and our imagination. Starting with the legendary and possibly mythical Orpheus and with Homer, Schmidt conjures a host of our literary forebears. From Hipponax, “the dirty old man of poetry,” to Theocritus, the father of pastoral; from Sappho, who threw herself from a cliff for love, to Hesiod, who claimed a visit from the Muses–the stories in The First Poets masterfully merge fact and conjecture into animated and compelling portraits of these ancestors of our culture.

Wandering Poets in Ancient Greek Culture

Wandering Poets in Ancient Greek Culture
Author: Richard Hunter
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2009-02-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 0521898781

Explores the phenomenon of wandering poets, setting them within the wider context of ancient networks of exchange, patronage and affiliation.

Early Greek Poets' Lives

Early Greek Poets' Lives
Author: Maarit Kivilo
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2010-09-24
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 9004193286

This book examines the formation and development of the biographical traditions about early Greek poets, focusing on the traditions of Hesiod, Stesichorus, Archilochus, Hipponax, Terpander and Sappho. The study provides a detailed overview of the traditions and chronographical material about these poets and seeks to clarify who were the creators of the particular traditions; what were the sources; when the traditions were formed; and to what extent they are shaped by formulaic themes and story-patterns. It challenges several mainstream assumptions on the subject, for example, that the traditions were formed mainly in the Post-Classical period; that the only significant source for the legends is the works of the particular poet; and that the poets were perceived as “new heroes.”

Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol. 1&2)

Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol. 1&2)
Author: John Addington Symonds
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 769
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN:

In 'Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol. 1&2)', John Addington Symonds delves into a detailed examination of Greek poetry, offering insightful analyses of the works of renowned poets such as Homer, Pindar, and Sappho. Symonds' writing reflects his profound knowledge of Greek literature and culture, providing readers with a scholarly and erudite perspective on these classic poets. His prose is elegant and engaging, making the exploration of ancient Greek poetry both enlightening and captivating. This work is a valuable contribution to the study of Greek literature and serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in delving deeper into the world of ancient Greek poetry. John Addington Symonds, a British writer and scholar known for his works on literature and aesthetics, was deeply influenced by his passion for Greek culture. His meticulous research and profound understanding of Greek poetry are evident in 'Studies of the Greek Poets', showcasing his expertise in the field of classical studies. I highly recommend 'Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol. 1&2)' to readers who are eager to explore the rich tapestry of ancient Greek poetry. Symonds' insightful analyses and eloquent prose make this work a must-read for those interested in delving into the world of classical literature.

Some Greek Poems of Love and Beauty

Some Greek Poems of Love and Beauty
Author: J. M. Edmonds
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 79
Release: 2015-10-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1107554292

Originally published in 1937, this book presents some of the most captivating Greek poetry from antiquity on the subjects of love and beauty.