Pliny responded with a narrative extending from the early afternoon. A series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed. Nam lacus piscem, feras silvae quibus lacus cingitur, studia altissimus iste secessus affatim suggerunt. The numbering of the letters in this book has been changed slightly to bring it into line with the most recent editions. The blog posts about the vesuvius eruption are on hold while i complete my book, pliny and the destruction of vesuvius routledge, 2021. Plinys lively and very personal letters address an astonishing range of topics, from a deeply moving account of his uncles death in the eruption that engulfed pompeii, to observations on the early christiansa desperate. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication. He wrote a number of books, but the natural history is the only one that survives. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. Its an encyclopedia of what passed for scientific information in that time. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre.
Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters. Michael dirda is a fulbright fellowship recipient and pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world. While this book does contain a lot of first hand information about life in imperial rome especially the legal system and the elaborate network of favors, obligations, and patronage in the senatorial class its not especially readable, being a collection of letters written by pliny and, near the end, by the emperor trajan to pliny. Pliny the elder 23 ad79 ad, ancient roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of naturalis historia plinys natural history pliny the younger died 1, ancient roman statesman, orator, writer, and pliny the elders nephew and adopted son. Letters on a variety of topics offer insights into the roman society and culture of pliny s time. Pliny the younger, the roman governor of bithynia and pontus now in modern turkey wrote a letter to emperor trajan around ad 112 and asked for counsel on dealing with the early christian community.
A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such. Book x of the letters contains his correspondence with trajan during this period, and includes letters about the early christians. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century ce. Tales from a notsofabulous life is a young adult novel by rachel renee russell which recounts 14yearold nikki maxwells first month andahalf in a new school where she must handle bullies, boys, and an art competition. Librivox recording of letters of pliny by pliny the younger. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates.
Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. Letters on a variety of topics offer insights into the roman society and culture of plinys time. Pliny the youngers nine book epistles is a masterpiece of roman prose. Pliny chase 18201886, american scientist, mathematician. Note on the text the text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. Pliny the elders most popular book is natural history. Nonfiction harvard classics pliny the younger letters.
Here he met christians for the first time and was not sure how they should be dealt with. So he wrote the following letter to emperor trajan reporting what he had done so far and asking for guidance. Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters two letters. Having never been present at any trials of the christians, i am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in.
Read in english by andrew coleman the largest surviving body of plinys work is his epistulae letters, a series of personal missives directed to his friends, associates and the emperor trajan. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10 book and the 8 book, known as. His latest book, on conan doyle, was published in 2011 by. Pliny the youngers ninebook epistles is a masterpiece of roman prose. They were both witnesses to the eruption of vesuvius on 24 august 79 ad. A reconstruction of the transmission history of epp. Pliny the younger was born in novum comum como, northern italy, the son of lucius caecilius cilo, born there, and wife plinia marcella, a sister of pliny the elder. Dear acilius, 1 a terrible thing, worthy of more than just a letter, has been suffered at the hands of his slaves by larcius macedo, a man of praetorian rank, a haughty and savage master who remembered too little or rather too well that his own father had been a slave. Book 10, letter 96 pliny is unsure how he should deal with the.
Choose expedited shipping if available for much faster delivery. During this time, pliny the elder saw some remarkable sights, including the thermal spas at weisbaden. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae commentary by jacqueline carlon jacqueline carlon oxford greek and latin college commentaries. He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. He was only eight years old when his father caecilius died, and he was adopted by his uncle, the elder pliny, author of the natural history. Book 10, letter 110 the city of amisus is trying to reclaim a large grant it gave 20 years ago to a city official, who spent the money on city business. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. The last was written during his tour of administration of bithynia, during which he may well have died. Read in english by andrew coleman the largest surviving body of pliny s work is his epistulae letters, a series of personal missives directed to his friends, associates and the emperor trajan. This book is a reproduction of the original book published in 1855 and may have some imperfections such as marks or handwritten notes. It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. Pliny was a civil servant who served as governor of bithynia, in the north of asia minor modern turkey, from 1111 ad.
Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. He revered his uncle, pliny the elder, and provides sketches of how his uncle worked on the naturalis historia. An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. Pliny the younger, latin in full gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born 6162 ce, comum italydied c. A portion of your purchase of this book will be donated to nonprofit organizations.
These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and. Jun 24, 2010 while the first nine books of plinys letters follow a roughly chronological orderthe author disingenuously maintains hes just selected them casually, almost at randombook 10 is made up of official correspondence exchanged during his tenure as governor of bithynia part of modernday turkey. The letters of the younger pliny have come down to us in 10 books, 9 of his personal letters, and book 10 containing his official correspondence with the emperor trajan. Pliny the younger was born in novum comum como, northern italy around 61 ad, the son of lucius caecilius cilo, born there, and his wife plinia marcella, a sister of pliny the elder. The older man, gaius plinius secundus, is called pliny the elder. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century. Epistulae, letters vol i book ibook vi 1 of 2 translations. Comprehensive commentary makes this volume ideal for use on its own, without supplementary materials. Providing a series of fascinating views of imperial rome, the letters of the younger pliny also offer one of the fullest selfportraits to survive from classical times. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position.
The numbering of the letters in this book has been changed slightly to bring it. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Plinys letter to trajan christian history institute. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Letters of pliny by pliny the younger free at loyal books. He was the grandson of senator and landowner gaius caecilius, revered his uncle, pliny the elder who at this time was extremely famous around the roman empire, and provided sketches of how his. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. The novel begins shortly before nikki is set to begin school at westchester day school.
After this war, pliny returned to rome, probably with publius pomponius secundus. Plinys uncle, pliny the elder, helped raise and educate him. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born gaius caecilius or gaius caecilius cilo 61 c. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. Jan 16, 2006 dear acilius, 1 a terrible thing, worthy of more than just a letter, has been suffered at the hands of his slaves by larcius macedo, a man of praetorian rank, a haughty and savage master who remembered too little or rather too well that his own father had been a slave. Pliny the elder has 277 books on goodreads with 3804 ratings. First in diary series thick with materialism, thin on plot. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian.
See key to translations for an explanation of the format. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. He also wrote his first book which was a kind of military manual on horseriding and spearthrowing. Book 10, letter 111 such grants are technically illegal, but the official cannot be expected to return a 20year old grant now. He is the author of the memoir an open book 2003 and several collections of essays, including book by book 2005 and classics for pleasure 2007. They tell us about the man himself and his wide interests, and about his many friends, including tacitus, martial and suetonius. Pliny the elders sister, plinia, married a man named caecilius, from the northern italian town of comum.
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