Scrinium Classical Antiquity

WILLETTS, R.F., Everyday Life in Ancient Crete. Hakkert, Amsterdam, 1988. Reprint 1st ed.1969. 191p. ills. Paperback. Cover to small at lower edge. Name and date on half title. € 12.50 (Antiquarian)

WILLI, A., The Languages of Aristophanes. Aspects of Linguistic Variation in Classical Attic Greek. Oxford University Press, Oxford/NewYork, 2007. Reprint ed.2003. XIII,361p. Paperback. Series: Oxford Classical Monographs. 'Even if its focus is not so much on Aristophanes per se but on his background and environment, the book also makes important contributions to the interpretation of the individual comedies, or of particular passages in them, and to the study of the genre of comedy. The second chapter of the book ends with a summary that epitomizes its conclusions under three different headings, '(1) literary, (2) methodological, and (3) linguistic' (p. 47). Summaries with comparable content end the other chapters as well. Not only the varieties of the language and the often complex methodological issues involved in their study but also Aristophanic comedy as an example of Athenian and Greek literature fall within the scope of the book; to quote its author (p. 7): '... the positive facts assembled in this book ... show what a complex structure comic discourse has, how literary styles are composed and configured, and where the potentials and limitations of our analytic methods lie.' Let me say it at once: this is an important book. It opens up a new field of studies of classical Attic, rarely cultivated before, its author shows an excellent understanding both of the empirical data provided by the texts and of the theoretical and methodological obstacles continually surfacing in studies of this sort, and his conclusions are well founded and well presented, their uncertainties pointed out whenever motivated.' (JERKER BLOMQVIST in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2004.06.04). € 55.00 (New)

WILLIAMS WHITE, J., The Verse of Greek Comedy. Olms, Hildesheim, 1969. Photomechanical reprint ed.1912. XXIX,479p. Original green gilt titled cloth. Upper edge publisher's stained. Spine discoloured. Edges a bit yellowed. Signature on title page. € 25.00 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, C.A., Roman Homosexuality. Ideologies of Masculinity in Classical Antiquity. Oxford University Press, New York / Oxford, 1999. XII,395,(8)p. ills. Imitation leather bound.Signature on free endpaper. A few light, erasable pencil annotations. Nice copy. 'The early chapters are the best. On the basis of literary sources Williams contends (pp. 18-19) that Roman male sexuality centered on three 'traditional protocols governing sexual practices': first, 'a self-respecting Roman man must always give the appearance of playing the insertive role in penetrative acts, and not the receptive role'; second, 'apart from his wife, freeborn Romans were officially off-limits [as] sexual partners for a Roman man'; and third, 'less of a rule than a tendency pervading the ancient sources: a noticeable proclivity toward smooth young bodies.' This book, which will be widely consulted and cited, has much to recommend it. Williams provides a good bibliography, and his index of sources is helpful; by contrast, the general index is inadequate (e.g., no entry for Laronia, Juvenal 2.45-47). Beyond this, his forthright deliberation is welcome, even as he clears away much of the prejudicial dead thought that has long encumbered scholarship on this difficult theme. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Williams has provided the final word on any subject he discusses. Rather, more modestly, he has prepared the ground for much future research, although this in itself is a signal service. But what remains to be seen is whether Roman social historians will soon or ever be able to dispense with the concept of homosexuality.' (BRUCE W. FRIER in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 1999.11.05). € 120.00 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, G., The Nature of Roman Poetry. Oxford University Press, London, 1970. VIII,189p. Paperback. Yellowed. Small personal library mark, name as well as author’s dedication on free endpaper.From the library of the late Sir Kenneth James Dover. € 14.50 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, G., Change and Decline. Roman Literature in the Early Empire. University of California Press, Berkeley (...), 1978. VIII,344p. Cloth. Upper edge cloth a bit damaged. Small personal library mark on tail spine. With author’s dedication on free endpaper. 'Many features of 'Change and Decline' are admirable. Rare is the scholar today who has either the knowledge or the courage to attempt to discuss in detail all Latin literature; and the very fact of having such a study done from a single point of view – and Williams does not attempt to conceal his values and perspective – will encourage others to formulate their own opinions and to place them, as Williams does, is as large a literary context as possible.' (JAMES E.G. ZETZEL in The American Journal of Philology, 1980, p.223). From the library of the late Sir Kenneth James Dover. € 32.50 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, G., Change and Decline. Roman Literature in the Early Empire. University of California Press, Berkeley (...), 1978. VIII,344p. Cloth with dust wrps. Dust wrps to upper edge slightly wrinkled. 'Many features of 'Change and Decline' are admirable. Rare is the scholar today who has either the knowledge or the courage to attempt to discuss in detail all Latin literature; and the very fact of having such a study done from a single point of view – and Williams does not attempt to conceal his values and perspective – will encourage others to formulate their own opinions and to place them, as Williams does, is as large a literary context as possible.' (JAMES E.G. ZETZEL in The American Journal of Philology, 1980, p.223). From the library of Prof. Carl Deroux. € 35.00 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, G., The Nature of Roman Poetry. Oxford University Press, London, 1970. VIII,189p. Paperback. Spine a bit discoloured and with light reading traces. Yellowed, due to paper quality. Series: Opus 49. € 10.00 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, Harold S., Tales of the Foreign Settlements in Japan. Decorations by Jean Williams. Charles Tuttle, Tokyo Japan /Rutland Vermont, 1959 2nd impr. 351p. ills. Original burgundy cloth with dust wrps. Dust wrps bit worn. With signature from the author on first free endpaper. Name of former owner on dedication page and on upper edge. € 50.00 (Antiquarian)

WILLIAMS, R., (ed.), Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire abridged and illustrated. Bison Books, Greenwich, 1984. 256p. Richly illustrated. Bound wrps. € 17.00 (Antiquarian)