In this seminal work of Western philosophy, Aristotle focuses on the use of language in persuasive argument. He identifies practical and aesthetic elements and their proper combination in an effectiv
In this volume, the eminent classicist William Rhys Roberts (1858–1929) presents the Three Literary Letters of Dionysus of Halicarassus. Well established in the classical canon, the works of Dionysus are regarded particularly for their value as histories and as works of rhetoric. First published in 1901, this is an edition that encourages speakers of modern English to see Greek sources through the eyes of contemporary Greek critics. The original Greek text is printed with a facing-page English translations, and accompanied by notes, a glossary of rhetorical and grammatical terms, a bibliography, and an introductory essay on Dionysus as a literary critic. It remains an important early edition and translation of Dionysus that will be of interest to classicists and amateur readers of Greek.
Probably dating from the first century AD, De Eloutione is an ancient treatise on good writing practices that draws on works by Aristotle and Theophrastus. It remained highly popular into the late Renaissance with such writers as John Milton among its exponents. This edition by William Rhys Roberts was the first English publication in 1902. The volume provides a facing-page translation of the original Greek text, supplemented with extensive notes, a glossary, and comprehensive introduction. While an important book for classicists and amateur readers of Greek, there is much here that students of rhetoric will also find interesting.
This is the 1907 second edition of W. Rhys Roberts' Longinus on the Sublime. The volume contains the Greek text edited after the Paris manuscript, an extensive introduction, and a thorough and accessible translation of the main text. Roberts' introduction is divided into two parts: the authorship of the Treatise, and its content and character. Roberts is careful to place On the Sublime in its critical context, challenging both the inscription and description of this classical text. The author is thought to be an unknown teacher, and not the historical Longinus, whilst the 'sublime' in this instance is not 'the sublime' as we would commonly understand it. On the Sublime is a text which dissects the problems of literary criticism and the aesthetics of Greek literature. The lively and intelligent style of the text will ensure that Roberts' edition is enjoyed by Greek scholars and general readers alike.
It is no exaggeration to say that all Western literary criticism flows from Aristotle. In the Poetics he focuses mainly on drama, especially tragedy, and introduces ideas that are still being debated
