Synopses & Reviews
Alain de Botton's bestselling
The Consolations of Philosophy--later made into a six-part TV series--has helped popularize ancient philosophy and especially the work of Seneca. This superb volume offers the finest translation of Seneca's dialogues and essays in print, capturing the full range of his philosophical interests. Here the Stoic philosopher outlines his thoughts on how to live in a troubled world. Tutor to the young emperor Nero, Seneca wrote exercises in practical philosophy that draw upon contemporary Roman life and illuminate the intellectual concerns of the day. They also have much to say to the modern reader, as Seneca ranges widely across subjects such as the shortness of life, tranquility of mind, anger, mercy, happiness, and grief at the loss of a loved one. Seneca's accessible, aphoristic style makes his writing especially attractive as an introduction to Stoic philosophy, and belies its reputation for austerity and dogmatism. This edition combines a clear and modern translation by John Davies with Tobias Reinhardt's fascinating introduction to Seneca's career, literary style, and influence, including a superb summary of Stoic philosophy and Seneca's interpretation of it. The book's notes are the fullest of any comparable edition.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Synopsis
This volume collects all the remaining essays by Seneca not already published in the series [Consolato ad Marciam (Hine), Consolato ad Polybium (Hine), Consolato ad Helviam (Williams), De otio (Williams), Brevitate (Williams), De tranquillitate animi (Fantham), De constantia (Ker), De providentia (Ker), De vita beata (Ker)]. In general, these pieces are intended to edify. They range from consolations to essays on how to achieve happiness or tranquility in the face of a difficult world. Many are quite popular in undergraduate philosophy courses. Fantham's translation is the jewel in the crown.
Synopsis
Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BCE65 CE) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, dramatist, statesman, and advisor to the emperor Nero, all during the Silver Age of Latin literature. The Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca is a fresh and compelling series of new English-language translations of his works in eight accessible volumes. Edited by world-renowned classicists Elizabeth Asmis, Shadi Bartsch, and Martha C. Nussbaum, this engaging collection helps restore Senecawhose works have been highly praised by modern authors from Desiderius Erasmus to Ralph Waldo Emersonto his rightful place among the classical writers most widely studied in the humanities. Hardship and Happiness collects a range of essays intended to instruct, from consolationsworks that offer comfort to someone who has suffered a personal lossto pieces on how to achieve happiness or tranquility in the face of a difficult world. Expertly translated, the essays will be read and used by undergraduate philosophy students and experienced scholars alike.
About the Author
Elaine Fantham was the Giger Professor of Latin at Princeton University from 1986 to 1999. She has written many books and commentaries on Latin literature, including Seneca’s Troades. Harry M. Hine is honorary professor in the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and the translator of Seneca’s Natural Questions, also in the series. James Ker is associate professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the editor of A Seneca Reader: Selections from Prose and Tragedy. Gareth D. Williams is the Violin Family Professor of Classics at Columbia University and the author of many books, including The Cosmic Viewpoint: A Study of Seneca’s “Natural Questions.”
Table of Contents
Seneca and His WorldNote on Translations and Their Sequence
Consolation to Marciatranslated by harry m. hineTranslator’s Introduction
Consolation to MarciaNotes
Consolation to Helviatranslated by gareth d. williamsTranslator’s Introduction
Consolation to HelviaNotes
Consolation to Polybiustranslated by harry m. hineTranslator’s Introduction
Consolation to PolybiusNotes
On the Shortness of Lifetranslated by gareth d. williamsTranslator’s Introduction
On the Shortness of LifeNotes
On the Constancy of the Wise PersonTranslated by James KerTranslator’s Introduction
On the Constancy of the Wise PersonNotesReferences
On Tranquility of MindTranslated by Elaine FanthamTranslator’s Introduction
On Tranquility of MindNotesBibliography
On Leisuretranslated by gareth d. williamsTranslator’s Introduction
On LeisureNotes
On the Happy Lifetranslated by james kerTranslator’s Introduction
On the Happy LifeNotesReferences
On Providencetranslated by james kerTranslator’s Introduction
On ProvidenceNotesReferences Index