Kenneth Quinn – författare

First published in 1968, Virgil’s Aeneid is to help all who approach the long and difficult poem seriously (in Latin or in English) to read it with discerning appreciation. This is not a handbook, nor is it a commentary: it is a critical description, from a number of aspects, of a poetic structure. A detailed analysis of the twelve books is preceded by a preliminary exploration of the poem’s central purpose, a careful reconstruction of the historical and artistic circumstances, and a description of the main outlines of the poem’s structure; two further chapters provide a discussion of a number of theoretical problem and an analysis of the verbal fabric. This book will be of interest to students of classical literature and history.

First published in 1968, Virgil’s Aeneid is to help all who approach the long and difficult poem seriously (in Latin or in English) to read it with discerning appreciation. This is not a handbook, nor is it a commentary: it is a critical description, from a number of aspects, of a poetic structure. A detailed analysis of the twelve books is preceded by a preliminary exploration of the poem’s central purpose, a careful reconstruction of the historical and artistic circumstances, and a description of the main outlines of the poem’s structure; two further chapters provide a discussion of a number of theoretical problem and an analysis of the verbal fabric. This book will be of interest to students of classical literature and history.

First published in 1979, Texts and Contexts identifies those classics of Roman literature which deserve to survive because of their intrinsic quality and their lasting significance. The most important of these texts are placed in the context of the tradition which each represents and which each group of texts, taken together, constitutes. Four main streams of tradition are identified: the poet as storyteller (narrative poetry and drama), the poet as teacher (didactic poetry), the poet as himself (personal poetry and the poetry of social comment), and Roman literary prose. Each major text is presented in the form of one or more passages of substantial length for analysis in detail and comparison with related works. The translations used include leading literary translations since the sixteenth century. The result is a history of Roman literature in which the emphasis is laid on the quality of the text discussed rather than on comprehensiveness of treatment, and on organic relationships rather than chronology.

This book is the result of thirty years of teaching experience by the author and his conviction that existing books on the same subject are inadequate and misleading. It will be of particular interest to students taking classical literature and translation courses, to students of English literature and anyone who is interested in literature, even without a knowledge of Latin.

First published in 1979, Texts and Contexts identifies those classics of Roman literature which deserve to survive because of their intrinsic quality and their lasting significance. The most important of these texts are placed in the context of the tradition which each represents and which each group of texts, taken together, constitutes. Four main streams of tradition are identified: the poet as storyteller (narrative poetry and drama), the poet as teacher (didactic poetry), the poet as himself (personal poetry and the poetry of social comment), and Roman literary prose. Each major text is presented in the form of one or more passages of substantial length for analysis in detail and comparison with related works. The translations used include leading literary translations since the sixteenth century. The result is a history of Roman literature in which the emphasis is laid on the quality of the text discussed rather than on comprehensiveness of treatment, and on organic relationships rather than chronology.

This book is the result of thirty years of teaching experience by the author and his conviction that existing books on the same subject are inadequate and misleading. It will be of particular interest to students taking classical literature and translation courses, to students of English literature and anyone who is interested in literature, even without a knowledge of Latin.

Latin Explorations, first published in 1963, offers a fresh approach to Roman poetry from Catullus to Ovid. Traditionally, the period is divided for specialist studies – Lyric, Epic and Elegy. In each of them, techniques of interpretation prevail, isolated from contemporary ideas about poetry and dominated by barriers between ‘textual’, ‘exegetical’ and ‘aesthetic’ criticism.

Kenneth Quinn discerns in Roman poetry of this period the adolescence, maturity and decay of a single coherent tradition whose internal unity surpasses differences of form. His argument attempts to reverse the dissociation of purely academic research from appreciative criticism, whilst also incorporating the work of textual scholars. Each chapter is supported by a detailed analysis of the texts: nearly 700 lines of poetry are discussed and translated.

Latin Explorations will be of significant value not only to students of the Classics, but also to the ‘Latinless’ general reader who is interested in Roman literature.

Latin Explorations, first published in 1963, offers a fresh approach to Roman poetry from Catullus to Ovid. Traditionally, the period is divided for specialist studies – Lyric, Epic and Elegy. In each of them, techniques of interpretation prevail, isolated from contemporary ideas about poetry and dominated by barriers between ‘textual’, ‘exegetical’ and ‘aesthetic’ criticism.

Kenneth Quinn discerns in Roman poetry of this period the adolescence, maturity and decay of a single coherent tradition whose internal unity surpasses differences of form. His argument attempts to reverse the dissociation of purely academic research from appreciative criticism, whilst also incorporating the work of textual scholars. Each chapter is supported by a detailed analysis of the texts: nearly 700 lines of poetry are discussed and translated.

Latin Explorations will be of significant value not only to students of the Classics, but also to the ‘Latinless’ general reader who is interested in Roman literature.