The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature

The aim of this book, as designed by the publishers, is to present, in convenient form, information which the ordinary reader, not only of the literatures of Greece and Rome, but also of that large proportion of modern European literature which teems With classical allusions, may find useful. It endeavours to do two things : in the first place to bring together what he may wish to know about the evolution of classical literature, the principal authors, and their chief works ; in t,he second place, to depict so much of the historical, political, social, and religious background as may help to make {he classics understood. Accordingly, for the first of the above purposes, articles in alphabetical arrangement (I) explain the various elements of classical literature—opic, tragedy, comedy, metre, &c ; (2) give an account of the principal authors; and (3) describe the subjects or contents of their works, eîther under the name of the author, or, where more convenient, under the title of the work itself. Interesting points of connexion between the classics and medieval and modern English literature are noticed. In general the book confines itself to the clasgical period, but some authors of the decline, such as Plutarch and Lucian, Jerome and Ausoniue, are included, because of their exceptional interest or importance.