Greek Lyric Poetry

by David A. Campbell (Editor)

This edition provides a full and representative selection of all early Greek lyric (omitting Pindar, who requires his own volume), elegiac and iambic poetry. First published in 1967 in the 'red Macmillan' series, it was reprinted by BCP in 1982 with addenda to the bibliography and an appendix reproducing a text of three substantial 'new' papyrus fragments by Archilochus, Stesichorus and Alcaeus. The extensive commentary gives assistance with matters of dialect and language, Homeric and Hesiodic comparisons, interpretation, content and metre. The book serves as an introduction to the poetics of the Greek archaic period - from the mid-seventh to the early fifth century BC - the 'bridge' between Homeric epic and Attic tragedy.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Greece

500 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 451

About the author

David A. Campbell is Professor Emeritus of Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Victoria.

Reviews

[George Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good text—though the commentary is a bit less than I’d like. However, there are so many different authors that this isn’t that big of an issue. An enjoyable and challenging way to end my structured Greek classes for the near future ;)

[Sam Turrigiano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The notes are largely insufficient and dated. This is clearly intended for a higher-level reader than me, but I can't blame the shifting of standards on Campbell. The notes still helped make this decipherable, though. And the selection remains peak. The Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics for Elegy, Iambs, and Epigrams are better, but I don't have the money to afford three $40 tomes.

It does the job.

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greek lyric poetry is brain-breakingly hard to read. The difference dialects, the lacunae, the grammatical contortions necessary to make the words fit the meter, the vast variety of meters. . . it was all too much for me, particularly since I was only auditing the class, because I could never make it on Wednesdays, because I had another class. It also doesn't help that I am naturally lazy. So if this kind of stuff floats your boat, go ahead and pat yourself on the back for being a better person than I am. This stuff either builds character, or proves you don't have any. ;)

[L S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is immensely useful; first of all, the short reference sections on dialects and authorial quirks are convenient. Second of all, Sappho and Archilochus. Sappho and Archilochus are a luxury everyone should indulge in.