Luther's Aesop / Carl P.E. Springer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Springer, Carl P. E.

Series:

Early modern studies series ; 8.

Early modern studies series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Luther, Martin, 1483-1546--Knowledge and learning--Fables, Greek.

Luther, Martin.

Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.

Fables, Greek.

Aesop--Appreciation--Germany.

Aesop.

Germany.

Aesop's fables.

Physical Description:

xiv, 249 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Kirksville, Mo. : Truman State University Press, [2011]

Summary:

Reformer of the church, biblical theologian, and German translator of the Bible Martin Luther had the highest respect for stories attributed to the ancient Greek author Aesop. He assigned them a status second only to the Bible and regarded them as wiser than "the harmful opinions of all the philosophers." Throughout his life, Luther told and retold Aesop's fables and strongly supported their continued use in Lutheran schools. In this volume, Carl Springer builds on the textual foundation other scholars have laid and provides the first book in English to seriously consider Luther's fascination with Aesop's fables. He looks at which fables Luther knew, how he understood and used them, and why he valued them. Springer provides a variety of cultural contexts to help scholars and general readers gain a deeper understanding of Luther's appreciation of Aesop.

Contents:

Wittenberg and Athens

"The best after the Bible"

Luther the editor

A Lutheran fable book

Luther as Aesop

Appendix A. Other versions of the Coburg fables

Appendix B. Selected Latin poems of Luther

Appendix C. Varia : texts translated in chapter 5.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-237) and indexes.

ISBN:

9781612480008

1612480004

9781612480688

1612480683

OCLC:

733238845