Suetonius the Biographer

Tristan Power and Roy Gibson, the editors of this new collection of thirteen lively essays, Suetonius the Biographer, seek to put the author in the spotlight by directing the critical focus squarely back to his craft as a biographer. By meeting Suetonius on his own terms, the contributors aim to clarify how and why he is an innovative writer still worth reading today ... as this stimulating collection of essays demonstrates, looking below the surface of Suetonius's text into the inner workings of the author's mind is richly rewarding. * Rhiannon Ash, Times Literary Supplement *
excellent collection of essays ... There are no weak links in the essays, and the choice of material is a thought-provoking pointer to how those Suetonian times have changed ... The volume as a whole is certainly an important further step in dismantling that caricature, and all readers and browsers will learn a lot. * Christopher Pelling, Classical Review *
[T]he most thorough and successful attempt to date to recover Suetonius as an innovative biographer ... This is an unusually excellent edited volume. While diverse and occasionally divergent, the papers overall make a strong case for the artful biographer. Their thoughtful arrangement, along with Power's introduction, enhances their impact. Established fans of Suetonius will cheer, and new ones should join them. * Josiah Osgood, Sehepunkte *
this engaging volume succeeds in advancing our understanding of Suetonius ... The thirteen essays are well-edited and coherently organized, concluding with a rich bibliography and generous indexes. Scholars and students interested in biography and early imperial history will want to take note of this stimulating publication. * Salvador Bartera, Classical World *
Power and Gibson and their contributors have given us what is often a demanding read, but certainly something that for students of Suetonius demands to be read. * David Wardle, Histos *
a welcome addition to English-language scholarship on Suetonius, his literary style, his contributions to the genre of biography and his subsequent reception ... the editors have done a good job of establishing connections between the chapters and teasing out key themes that should inform and enrich our assessment of Suetonius in future scholarship ... attentive readers will return to Suetonius more thoughtfully and cautiously in future sittings. * Mark Bradley, Journal of Roman Studies *
By offering scholarship on the DVC that employs a wide variety of approaches and includes successful forays beyond the DVC's borders, Suetonius the Biographer expands our awareness of the myriad of possibilites for future work on this under-estimated author. That there can be great care, artistry, and purpose to be explored in works that, to the casual reader, may seem at times to be compilations of mere data (however quirky) is something we are just beginning to appreciate in such authors as Pliny the Elder and Suetonius. Suetonius the Biographer piques one's appetite for the next modest spate of Suetonian monograph(s). * Trevor S. Luke, Classical Journal Online *