The Cambridge Companion to the Greek and Roman Novel

The Greek and Roman novels of Petronius Apuleius Longus Heliodorus and others have been cherished for millennia but never more so than now. The Cambridge Companion to the Greek and Roman Novel contains nineteen original essays by an international cast of experts in the field. The emphasis is upon the critical interpretation of the texts within historical settings both in antiquity and in the later generations that have been and continue to be inspired by them. All the central issues of current scholarship are addressed: sexuality cultural identity class religion politics narrative style readership and much more. Four sections cover cultural context of the novels their contents literary form and their reception in classical antiquity and beyond. Each chapter includes guidance on further reading. This collection will be essential for scholars and students as well as for others who want an up-to-date accessible introduction into this exhilarating material.