DAM, H.-J., van, (ed.),
P. Papinius Statius Silvae Book II. A Commentary. Proefschrift.
Brill, Leiden, 1984. X,539,(5)p. Theses. Paperback. Diss. Rijksuniversiteit Leiden. Upper corner front cover as well as first pages a bit creased. ‘Like Fraenkel’s Agamemnon, this book is striking for its seize - 529 pages, of which the text occupies twenty. Perhaps Statius’s literary quality in itself does not justify such ample treatment (although ages more familiar than our own with Latin poetry rated him very highly), but the difficulties which arise from his display of learning and his pursuit of the unexpected, when added to the many and perplexing textual problems, justify the editor in bringing to bear this park of erudite artillery. (…) The expository part of the commentary is full and learned, and only very rarely is a possible interpretation missed. (…) In preparing this commentary Van Dam appears to have read the work of all modern scholars who could throw light on(or sometimes darkness) on the literary and linguistic interpretation. The section ‘Literature’ of his bibliography contains over 500 items, and if his comments are sometimes of a length which may fatigue all who are not dedicated readers of Statius, they contain so much information relative to the poet and the genre that no one will feel that they have wasted his time. (…) It is to be hope that Van Dam will not stop at this point, but will complete the task for which he is so well fitted.’ (J.A. WILLIS in Mnemosyne, 1988, pp.207-210).
€ 65.00
(Antiquarian)