Companion To The Ancient Novel

Cleverly bisecting the over-extension and highly focused specialism of other texts on the ancient novel, this edited collection features the most up-to-date international scholarship and offers an invaluable survey of the classical world s prototypical achievements in narrative fiction. Cleverly bisecting the over-extension and highly focused specialism of other texts on the ancient novel, this companion brings together the most up-to-date international scholarship on the classical world’s prototypical achievements in narrative fiction. Chapters on individual classical authors such as Petronius, Xenophon and Apuleius sit alongside a wide-ranging thematic analysis and ground-breaking exploration of developments in authorial expression and readership of the ancient novel form. Reflecting the on-going cultural significance of the ancient novel, with its close relevance to modern studies of fiction and literary theory, not to mention the cultural precepts of linguistic, psychological and sociological research, this comprehensive work promises to be an important resource for students and scholars for years to come. This companion addresses a topic of continuing contemporary relevance, both cultural and literary. Offers both a wide-ranging exploration of the classical novel of antiquity and a wealth of close literary analysis Brings together the most up-to-date international scholarship on the ancient novel, including fresh new academic voices Includes focused chapters on individual classical authors, such as Petronius, Xenophon and Apuleius, as well as a wide-ranging thematic analysis Addresses perplexing questions concerning authorial expression and readership of the ancient novel form Provides an accomplished introduction to a genre with a rising profile