Secondhand Classics Bargain Book Box DSH881

Secondhand Classics Bargain Book Box:

Embark on a journey to the foundations of Western thought and literature with our Secondhand Classical Literature Bargain Book Box. This curated collection brings together essential works from ancient Greece and Rome, featuring groundbreaking epics, plays, philosophical texts, and lyrical poetry. Delve into the minds of the ancients, explore timeless themes of fate, justice, love, and the human condition, and enrich your understanding of the origins of drama, philosophy, and history, all at a fantastic value.

Here are the contents of this box:

1. The Iliad by Homer. This epic poem recounts a crucial period of the Trojan War, focusing on the rage of the Greek hero Achilles. It explores themes of honor, glory, fate, and the complex relationship between mortals and the gods. A foundational work of Western literature, renowned for its vivid characters and dramatic scope. It captures the brutality and heroism of ancient warfare.
2. The Odyssey by Homer. This epic poem follows the ten-year journey of the Greek hero Odysseus as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War. He faces mythical creatures, divine obstacles, and human challenges while his loyal wife Penelope awaits him. A timeless tale of perseverance, cunning, and the longing for home. It explores themes of identity, hospitality, and the power of storytelling.
3. Satyricon by Petronius. A fragmented but influential satirical novel from ancient Rome, known for its vivid and often bawdy depiction of Roman society. It follows the misadventures of the narrator Encolpius and his companions through various social strata. The famous "Feast of Trimalchio" is a highlight, satirizing the vulgarity of the newly rich. A unique and entertaining glimpse into Roman life.
4. Metamorphoses by Ovid. This epic poem is a vast collection of myths from Greek and Roman legend, linked by the theme of transformation. It includes famous stories such as Daphne and Apollo, Narcissus and Echo, and the tale of Icarus. Ovid weaves these narratives together with wit and elegance. A rich source of classical mythology that has influenced art and literature for centuries.
5. Selected Lives by Plutarch. A collection of biographies of famous Greek and Roman figures, often presented in pairs to highlight comparisons in their lives and characters. Plutarch provides insights into the virtues, vices, and deeds of prominent leaders, politicians, and thinkers. A key historical and biographical work from antiquity. It offers enduring portraits of influential figures.
6. The Poems of Catullus by Catullus. A collection of lyrical poems by the Roman poet Catullus, celebrated for their intense emotion, personal voice, and often explicit content. His work ranges from passionate love poems to witty and biting invectives. Catullus's direct and innovative style had a significant impact on later poetry. A vibrant and compelling voice from ancient Rome.
7. Lysistrata / The Acharnians / The Clouds by Aristophanes. This volume contains three famous comedies by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. Lysistrata is a bold anti-war play where women go on a sex strike, The Acharnians is another plea for peace, and The Clouds satirizes the philosopher Socrates. Witty, satirical, and often crude, these plays offer sharp commentary on Athenian society and politics.
8. Aeschylus II: The Suppliant Maidens / Prometheus Bound / Seven Against Thebes / The Persians by Aeschylus. This collection presents four significant tragedies by Aeschylus, one of the earliest Greek tragedians. Prometheus Bound depicts the suffering of the defiant Titan, while the other plays explore themes of fate, conflict, and divine justice. Foundational works that helped shape the development of Western drama. They showcase Aeschylus's powerful and grand style.
9. The Last Days of Socrates by Plato. This volume brings together four dialogues by Plato that chronicle the final period of Socrates' life: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo. They depict Socrates' trial, his defense of his philosophical life, his refusal to escape prison, and his final conversation on the immortality of the soul. Essential texts for understanding Socrates and Plato's philosophy.
10. Classical Literary Criticism by Aristotle Horace Longinus. This collection features key texts on literary theory from the classical world, including Aristotle's Poetics, Horace's Ars Poetica, and Longinus's On the Sublime. These works established fundamental principles for analyzing and evaluating literature, discussing concepts like tragedy, epic, style, and the sublime. Indispensable for understanding the origins of Western literary criticism.
11. The Birds by Aristophanes. A fantastical comedy by Aristophanes where two Athenians, tired of their city, persuade the birds to create a new city in the sky called Cloud Cuckoo Land. The play is a satirical exploration of utopian ideals, political power, and human folly. A whimsical and imaginative example of ancient Greek comedy. It remains a unique work in dramatic history.
12. The Knights / Peace / The Birds / The Assemblywomen / Wealth by Aristophanes. This collection presents a selection of Aristophanes' comedies, showcasing his range of political and social satire. These plays offer humorous critiques of Athenian politicians, war, gender roles, and wealth. They provide a lively and often irreverent look at life in ancient Athens. Diverse examples of the master of Greek comedy.
13. The Republic by Plato. Plato's most famous and influential dialogue, in which Socrates and various interlocutors discuss the nature of justice and the ideal state. The work covers a wide range of philosophical topics, including the theory of Forms, education, the allegory of the cave, and different forms of government. A cornerstone of Western philosophy and political theory. It continues to provoke debate and analysis.
14. The Aeneid by Virgil. This epic poem, commissioned by Emperor Augustus, tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who is fated to journey to Italy and found the lineage that will lead to Rome. It blends myth, history, and political allegory, exploring themes of fate, duty, piety, and the cost of empire. Rome's national epic, a masterpiece of Latin literature. It stands as a response to Homer's epics.
15. The Georgics by Virgil. A didactic poem by Virgil focused on the subject of agriculture and rural life in Italy. Written in four books, it provides practical advice on farming, raising livestock, and beekeeping, interwoven with mythological stories and philosophical reflections. A celebration of the beauty and labor of the Italian countryside. It is considered one of Virgil's most polished works.
16. An Introduction to Homer by W.A. Camps. This book serves as an accessible guide for readers approaching Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Camps discusses the historical context, the oral tradition behind the epics, their structure, themes, and major characters. It provides valuable background information and analysis. A helpful companion for understanding these foundational works.
17. Phaedrus & Letters VII and VIII by Plato. This volume contains Plato's dialogue Phaedrus, a beautifully written work discussing rhetoric, love, beauty, and the nature of the soul, and two of his letters. Phaedrus is known for its literary artistry and exploration of philosophical discourse. The letters offer insights into Plato's life and political activities. Important texts for studying Plato's later thought and biography.
18. Classical Literary Criticism by Aristotle Horace Longinus. This collection features key texts on literary theory from the classical world, including Aristotle's Poetics, Horace's Ars Poetica, and Longinus's On the Sublime. These works established fundamental principles for analyzing and evaluating literature, discussing concepts like tragedy, epic, style, and the sublime. Indispensable for understanding the origins of Western literary criticism.