Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, the Roman biographer of the second century A.D., has long deserved, but has not received, a study of his literary art.
Presiding, in the government of Trajan and Hadrian, over the bureaux a studiis, a bibliothecis, ab epistulis, he supplied the past to the ruler of the world, and bodied forth the present use of it. For Suetonius was scholar and courtier together: both roles required a polished and effective rhetoric, and this rhetoric must be understood as it shaped the De Vita Caesarum. Therefore, The Arts of Suetonius: An Introduction sets out to explain reasons why a study of his literary art has not attracted scholars, and to propose methods by which the want can be remedied.
«Writing in elegant and urbane style in this physically attractive volume (...), Lounsbury offers much of interest and a good deal that ist important. ... a study that is never dull, frequently absorbing, sometimes epigrammatic, and overall a substantial contribution to our knowledge and appreciation of Suetonius.» (B.Baldwin, Classical Journal)
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