Autobiography and Selected Letters, Volume I (Hardcover)

Libanius

ISBN 10: 0674995279 / ISBN 13: 9780674995277

Published by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass, 1992

About this Item

Hardcover. A professing pagan in an aggressively Christian empire, a friend of the emperor Julian and acquaintance of St. Basil, a potent spokesman for private and political causes-Libanius can tell us much about the tumultuous world of the fourth century.Born in Antioch to a wealthy family steeped in the culture and religious traditions of Hellenism, Libanius rose to fame as a teacher of the classics in a period of rapid social change. In his lifetime Libanius was an acknowledged master of the art of letter writing. Today his letters-about 1550 of which survive-offer an enthralling self-portrait of this combative pagan publicist and a vivid picture of the culture and political intrigues of the eastern empire. A. F. Norman selects one eighth of the extant letters, which come from two periods in Libanius's life, 355365 and 388393 CE, letters written to Julian, churchmen, civil officials, scholars, and his many influential friends. The Letters are complemented, in this two-volume edition, by Libanius's Autobiography (Oration 1), a revealing narrative that begins as a scholar's account and ends as an old man's private journal.Also available in the Loeb Classical Library is a two-volume edition of Libanius's Orations. Libanius (314 393 CE), who was one of the last great publicists and teachers of Greek paganism, has much to tell us about the tumultuous world of the fourth century CE. His works include Orations, the first of which is an autobiography, and Letters. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780674995277

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Autobiography and Selected Letters, Volume I (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass
• Publication Date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0674995279
• ISBN 13: 9780674995277
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Pagans’ advocate.

A professing pagan in an aggressively Christian empire, a friend of the emperor Julian and acquaintance of St. Basil, a potent spokesman for private and political causes―Libanius can tell us much about the tumultuous world of the fourth century.

Born in Antioch to a wealthy family steeped in the culture and religious traditions of Hellenism, Libanius rose to fame as a teacher of the classics in a period of rapid social change. In his lifetime Libanius was an acknowledged master of the art of letter writing. Today his letters―about 1550 of which survive―offer an enthralling self-portrait of this combative pagan publicist and a vivid picture of the culture and political intrigues of the eastern empire. A. F. Norman selects one eighth of the extant letters, which come from two periods in Libanius’ life, AD 355–365 and 388–393, letters written to Julian, churchmen, civil officials, scholars, and his many influential friends. The Letters are complemented, in this two-volume edition, by Libanius’ Autobiography (Oration 1), a revealing narrative that begins as a scholar’s account and ends as an old man’s private journal.

Also available in the Loeb Classical Library is a two-volume edition of Libanius’ Orations.

About the Author

Albert Francis Norman was Professor of Classics at the University of Hull.