Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

H. D. BROADHEAD, Tragica. Elucidations of Passages in Greek Tragedy (University of Canterbury Publications, 8). Christchurch, Univ. of Canterbury, 1968. 179 p. Pr. D. 3.60

H. D. BROADHEAD, Tragica. Elucidations of Passages in Greek Tragedy (University of Canterbury... 88 DE NOVIS LIBRIS IUDICIA H. D. BROADHEAD, Tragica. Elucidations of Passages in Greek Tragedy (University of Canterbury Publications, 8). Christchurch, Univ. of Canterbury, 1968. 179 p. Pr. D. 3.60. A reviewer will feel somewhat embarrassed in dealing with a post- humous book when he has to declare himself out of sympathy with its tenor. The late H.D. Broadhead indubitably was a good Hellen- ist, extremely well-read in Greek tragedy and well-versed in its textual problems, by no means devoid of critical acumen and good taste. But too often these critical discussions show a deplorable tendency of cavilling at transmitted readings which, although pres- enting us with a certain difficulty, do not at all (or hardly) call for alterations. And this tendency is not redeemed by sparks of sheer genius as, say, in the case of J. Jackson's Marginalia Scaenica. That is not to deny that the problems of many passages are often ad- mirably brought into focus; in that respect the book, or rather, the collection is very useful. It would take another book, twice as long, to discuss the author's considerations and proposals. For the future editor of Greek trage- dies they will be compulsory reading-useful, but not delightful. SANTPOORT-ZUID, Duinlustparkweg 46 J. C. KAMERBEEK DE NOVIS LIBRIS IUDICIA H. D. WESTLAKE, Individuals in Thucydides. Cambridge University Press, 1968. X, 324 p. Pr. sh. 65/_. The structural division made by Thucydides between the books I-V 24 and V 25-end has been made use of by Westlake to study Ths' methods in presenting leading individuals, in order to show that their treatment is not equal in the two parts of the Histoyy. From each 'half' he has selected six personages. As Nicias and Demosthenes are on the scene in both parts, their presentation by Th. is a valuable touch-stone for this thesis. W.'s most thorough investigation offers evidence enough to infer a change in Ths' methods at this particular point, although the very treatment of the two key-figures in the first part is not without 'exceptional' features. Some doubts arise when the author leaves this field of investigation to give an explanation of the just discover- ed facts. He interprets the divergences between the two halves as the result of an evolution of Ths' thinking and technique. But to ex- plain Ths' omission, for instance, of any information about the opposition to Pericles' policy by referring to a not yet developed technique, is altogether unconvincing. W. has been led astray, I think, by his impression that in the course of time Th. understood http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Mnemosyne Brill

H. D. BROADHEAD, Tragica. Elucidations of Passages in Greek Tragedy (University of Canterbury Publications, 8). Christchurch, Univ. of Canterbury, 1968. 179 p. Pr. D. 3.60

Kamerbeek, J.C.
Mnemosyne , Volume 25 (1): 88 – Jan 1, 1972
Download PDF
1 page

Loading next page...
 
/lp/brill/h-d-broadhead-tragica-elucidations-of-passages-in-greek-tragedy-cPPD4G16r0

References

References for this paper are not available at this time. We will be adding them shortly, thank you for your patience.

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1972 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0026-7074
eISSN
1568-525X
DOI
10.1163/156852572X00135
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

88 DE NOVIS LIBRIS IUDICIA H. D. BROADHEAD, Tragica. Elucidations of Passages in Greek Tragedy (University of Canterbury Publications, 8). Christchurch, Univ. of Canterbury, 1968. 179 p. Pr. D. 3.60. A reviewer will feel somewhat embarrassed in dealing with a post- humous book when he has to declare himself out of sympathy with its tenor. The late H.D. Broadhead indubitably was a good Hellen- ist, extremely well-read in Greek tragedy and well-versed in its textual problems, by no means devoid of critical acumen and good taste. But too often these critical discussions show a deplorable tendency of cavilling at transmitted readings which, although pres- enting us with a certain difficulty, do not at all (or hardly) call for alterations. And this tendency is not redeemed by sparks of sheer genius as, say, in the case of J. Jackson's Marginalia Scaenica. That is not to deny that the problems of many passages are often ad- mirably brought into focus; in that respect the book, or rather, the collection is very useful. It would take another book, twice as long, to discuss the author's considerations and proposals. For the future editor of Greek trage- dies they will be compulsory reading-useful, but not delightful. SANTPOORT-ZUID, Duinlustparkweg 46 J. C. KAMERBEEK DE NOVIS LIBRIS IUDICIA H. D. WESTLAKE, Individuals in Thucydides. Cambridge University Press, 1968. X, 324 p. Pr. sh. 65/_. The structural division made by Thucydides between the books I-V 24 and V 25-end has been made use of by Westlake to study Ths' methods in presenting leading individuals, in order to show that their treatment is not equal in the two parts of the Histoyy. From each 'half' he has selected six personages. As Nicias and Demosthenes are on the scene in both parts, their presentation by Th. is a valuable touch-stone for this thesis. W.'s most thorough investigation offers evidence enough to infer a change in Ths' methods at this particular point, although the very treatment of the two key-figures in the first part is not without 'exceptional' features. Some doubts arise when the author leaves this field of investigation to give an explanation of the just discover- ed facts. He interprets the divergences between the two halves as the result of an evolution of Ths' thinking and technique. But to ex- plain Ths' omission, for instance, of any information about the opposition to Pericles' policy by referring to a not yet developed technique, is altogether unconvincing. W. has been led astray, I think, by his impression that in the course of time Th. understood

Journal

Mnemosyne – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1972

There are no references for this article.