The Roman book books, publishing and performance in classical Rome Rex Winsbury.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Winsbury, Rex, author.

Series:

Classical literature and society.

Classical literature and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Latin literature--History and criticism.

Latin literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (418 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London Bristol Classical Press 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"The publishing of Roman books has long and often been misrepresented by false analogies with modern publishing. This comprehensive new study examines, by appeal to what Roman authors themselves tell us, both the raw materials and aesthetic criteria of the Roman book (a papyrus scroll) and the process of literary composition. What was the 'scribal art' of the time? What was the role of bookshops and libraries? What control did an author have over his creation? How were new books received and used by readers? To answer these questions Roman publishing is placed firmly in the context of a society that, despite the omnipresence of writing, was still predominantly oral. This context helps to explain how some books and authors became politically dangerous, and how the Roman book could be both a cultural icon and integral part of the self-definition of Rome's governing elite and a direct contributor to popular culture through the mass medium of the Roman theatre."--Bloomsbury Publishing

The publishing of Roman books has long and often been misrepresented by false analogies with modern publishing. This comprehensive new study examines, by appeal to what Roman authors themselves tell us, both the raw materials and aesthetic criteria of the Roman book (a papyrus scroll) and the process of literary composition. What was the 'scribal art' of the time? What was the role of bookshops and libraries? What control did an author have over his creation? How were new books received and used by readers? To answer these questions Roman publishing is placed firmly in the context of a society that, despite the omnipresence of writing, was still predominantly oral. This context helps to explain how some books and authors became politically dangerous, and how the Roman book could be both a cultural icon and integral part of the self-definition of Rome's governing elite and a direct contributor to popular culture through the mass medium of the Roman theatre

Contents:

Cover; Title Page; Dedication; Contents; Editor's Foreword; Preface; Graffiti and other sayings; Introduction; 1. Myths and anachronisms: the need for a new look at roman publishing; What was the roman book?; 2. Format wars: scroll v. codex, papyrus v. parchment, pagan v. Christian; 3. Don't mess up the aesthetics: marching columns and rivers of letters; 4. Did the medium shape the message? Deciphering the author's intent; Deconstructing the roman book trade; 5. Atticus and co. - roman publishers?; 6. Bookshops and copyshops: a trip to Rome's Argiletum and Sigillaria

7. Books for looks: the library shelves as imperial patronageWhat the Latin tells us; 8. Slavery as the enabling infrastructure of roman literature; 9. Getting into circulation: from private space to public space; Texts in an oral/aural society; 10. Effecte! Graviter! Cito! Nequiter! Euge! Beate!:1 the recitatio as act of publication; 11. Literature of the voice: 'toss me a coin and I'll tell you a golden story'; The perils of publishing; 12. The battle for survival: mice and worms, plagiarism and posterity; 13. Bookburning and treason: 'a time of savagery even in peace'

Gluing it all together14. Scripts for all classes: the theatre of Rome, Rome as theatre; 15. A unitary culture: elite self-Definition and romanitas for all; Appendix A. Roman shorthand: a note on Tiro; Appendix B. Poetic postures: toto notus in orbe?; Bibliography; Footnotes; Notes; Copyright

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-229) and index

ISBN:

9781472540379

1472540379

9781849667654

1849667659

9781849667630

1849667632

OCLC:

843202763