Classical literature : an epic journey from Homer to Virgil and beyond / Richard Jenkyns.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-259) and index.

Homer -- Archaic Greece -- The rise of tragedy and history -- The later fifth century -- The fourth century -- The Hellenistic Age -- The Roman Republic -- Virgil -- The Augustan Age -- After the Augustans -- Two novels.

The writings of the Greeks and Romans form the bedrock of Western culture. Inventing the molds for histories, tragedies, and philosophies, while pioneering radical new forms of epic and poetry, the Greeks and Romans created the literary world we still inhabit today. Writing with verve and insight, Richard Jenkyns explores a thousand years of classical civilization, carrying readers from the depths of the Greek dark ages through the glittering heights of Rome's empire. A comprehensive introduction to Greek and Roman literature and essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the classics and the extraordinary origins of Western culture.

English.