Collected Papers on Latin Literature

a delight to read. Nisbet is challenging, witty, honest, gifted in metaphor, and commands an extraordinarily persuasive mathod and style of argument. His mastery of the Latin language is exhilerating to watch, rather than depressingly intimidating, as it can be in other scholars. Anyone who reads this book from beginning to end will come out knowing a lot more Latin than they did going in. * TLS *
As one works through the book, the overwhelming impression is of a scholar whose true gift lies in being able to combine a profound understanding of Latin with genuine feeling for it. Textual criticism for N. is not merely a cognitive exercise but one that calls for a fine sense of style and an acute ear. His conjectures are frequently stimulating, sometimes brilliant ... from this book one will learn much, both directly and along the way. * J.H.D. Scourfield, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Journal of Roman Studies *
This dazzling collection reveals the full breadth of his critical skills and the profound depth of his learning. His life-work, as represented by the twenty-six papers in this volume, stands as a model of the very best philological scholarship of our century. These collected papers should be recommended to all aspiring young literary critics...Meticulously edited by Nisbet's former student and colleague Stephen J. Harrison, the book has been elegantly produced by the Clarendon Press. * New England Classical Journal *
The usefulness...of having these and other papers gathered together may profitably be assessed. Above all, the collection provides an instructively repeated demonstration of N.'s basic method of getting on terms with Latin texts. Step-by-step, close analysis of a few lines at a time.