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Roman Culture and Society

The Collected Papers of Elizabeth Rawson

Elizabeth Rawson author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:11th Jul '91

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Roman Culture and Society cover

The late Elizabeth Rawson (1934-1988) was a distinguished specialist in the history, society, and culture of the later Roman Republic and Augustan period, whose sudden death at the end of a visit to China came when she was at the height of her powers, and had just been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy. Her papers form a closely related group, published over a short period of time between 1971 and 1989. The topics covered include the workings of Roman politics and society, historical and antiquarian thinking at Rome, and literary and cultural history. They are reproduced here in the order in which they were published, and together form an essential contribution to the understanding of the central period of Roman history.

`Rawson's writing is dense, provocative, and highly interpretive, with all the rewards and risks such an enterprise entails. But enterprising she was, and the success of that enterprise is fully revealed in this fine collection, valuable indeed for all those interested in the development and characterization of the "Roman" mentality.' History
`Above all, these articles make clear her commitment to the traditions of intellectual history ... and her ability to comprehend with great sensitivity what Romans of the Late Republic and Early Empire thought, and what were the distinctive qualities and limitations of their intellectual and cultural concerns.' History
`Elizabeth Rawson ... had established herself as a leading historian of the Roman Republic. The publication of the thirty-one papers in the present volume is a valuable service to students of ancient Rome, who may through them see the intellectual journey of a gifted ancient historian ... a fine volume which will be of the first importance to all students of Roman social, political and intellectual history.' Mark Morford, University of Virginia, Classical Journal
'Elizabeth Rawson had a talent for selecting topics difficult and fascinating - or perhaps it was her talent to turn the subjects she had selected into things fascinating to read ... stimulating and original' J. Linderski, University of North Carolina, Ploutarchos 9 (1992)
'The collection contributes greatly to our understanding of an important historical period. It is a fitting tribute to the memory of an anima candida.' Paul Mackendrick, Madison, Wisconsin, Classical World
'Finding, sorting out, and making sense of the multifarious evidence for the complex realities of history is what R. did supremely well, and with a modesty that was not at all ironical. Full of fascinating material, beautifully produced, and well-indexed to provide access to the riches within, this book is a worthy memorial to an exceptional scholar, and one who is sorely missed.' T.P. Wiseman, University of Exeter, The Classical Review, Vol. XLIV, No. 1, 1994
'Both the printer and the editor, Fergus Millar, are to be praised for a nearly faultless product; a 'General Index' and 'Index of Persons' to all the pieces round off the volume. Reading these historical essays evokes envy for their consummate learning: at each step in the argument no problem is shirked and on almost every page a tiny riddle is solved or a new suggestion made. The cumulative effect of these pieces is astonishing... Perhaps the greatest testaments to a scholar's work are only the solid foundations on which it allows others to build but the spur and inspiration it provides for the work of later enquirers. R. will always be remembered as a scholar uniquely gifted in both these ways. Thomas H. Tarver, Journal of Roman Studies

ISBN: 9780198147527

Dimensions: 241mm x 159mm x 37mm

Weight: 1041g

626 pages