Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Starting with the assumption that ancient Greek literature is public to an extent that modern readers find difficult to understand, Mr. Beye has written a splendid introduction to the works of the heroic, classical, and Alexandrian ages. His observations on the profound interrelationships between society and literature in Homer, the tragic poets, Aristophanes, and others are consistently fresh. The author has assimilated the important modern scholarship in classical studies, as well as in anthropology and sociology; and although he wears all this learning lightly, he makes judicious use of it. One may disagree with certain of Mr. Beye's emphases, but it must be agreed that he has produced a gem of a book. The fact that it is published in paperback, one hopes, will make it more widely available than it would be otherwise." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)