The Greek and Roman novels of Petronius, Apuleius, Longus, Heliodorus and others have been cherished for millennia, but never more so than now. The Cambridge Companion to the Greek and Roman Novel contains nineteen original essays by an international cast of experts in the field. The emphasis is upon the critical interpretation of the texts within historical settings, both in antiquity and in the later generations that have been and continue to be inspired by them. All the central issues of current scholarship are addressed: sexuality, cultural identity, class, religion, politics, narrative, style, readership and much more. Four sections cover cultural context of the novels, their contents, literary form, and their reception in classical antiquity and beyond. Each chapter includes guidance on further reading. This collection will be essential for scholars and students, as well as for others who want an up-to-date, accessible introduction into this exhilarating material. "The essays are self-standing, well-written, and provide useful guides to further reading. They sum up the state of current scholarship, but what lends the volume enduring value is that the essays also offer provocative new interpretations that will inspire further thinking and investigation. An invaluable resource for classicists and anyone interested in ancient literature and the history of the novel." --Choice "Whitmarsh has edited an extremely rich and stimulating volume that demonstrates the sophistication of the literature it deals with and of the criticism of contemporary classicists. The contributors engage with the novel at an extremely high level and with impressive specialism, bringing their perspectives to bear upon the genre. It will certainly be of great use to scholars of the ancient novel." --BCMR Nineteen new essays by internationally renowned experts on interpretations of the Greek and Roman novel. Tim Whitmarsh is E. P. Warren Praelector in Classics at Corpus Christi and Lecturer in Greek Language and Literature at the University of Oxford. He has published widely on the Greek literature of the Roman period, including Greek Literature and the Roman Empire: The Politics of Imitation (2001) and The Second Sophistic (2005). He has lectured all over the world, given television interviews, appeared on Radio 4 and written for the Times Literary Supplement. Used Book in Good Condition