Pliny s two letters regarding the eruption were written to the historian tacitus, a close friend, who had requested from pliny a detailed account of his uncles death for inclusion in his own historical work. Letters of pliny by pliny the younger full audio book great. I was looking forward to reading the letters, which are often said to give an insight into ordinary roman life, at least the life of an ordinary roman aristocrat. See all books authored by pliny the younger, including the letters of the younger pliny, and the historians of ancient rome, and more on. A range of latin passages for translation and comprehensio. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of administrative political matters. Sep 16, 2012 trajans reply to the letter by pliny from 2 days ago. The last was written during his tour of administration of bithynia, during which he may well have died.
The letters of the younger pliny book by pliny the younger. 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. Book x of the letters contains his correspondence with trajan during this period, and includes letters about the early christians. The 10th book contains addresses to emperor trajan on sundry official problems and the emperors replies. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian. Read and then reread as you will have missed details if you go too fast. Providing a series of fascinating views of imperia. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born gaius caecilius or gaius caecilius cilo 61 c. Buy a cheap copy of the letters of the younger pliny book by pliny the younger. This collection of letters contains an assortment of intimate personal correspondence with friends on various topics and book ten of this collection contains his. The last book contains correspondence between pliny and the emperor trajan. 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 states that his uncle pliny the elder had the unusual ability to be able to write something worth reading and be able to do something worth. This custom, however, of anointing themselves, is inveighed against by the satirists as in the number of their luxurious indulgences.
They tell us about the man himself and his wide interests, and about his many friends, including tacitus, martial and suetonius. Pliny has a gift for description and a versatile prose style, and more than any of his contemporaries he gives an unprejudiced picture of rome as he. Download pdf the letters of pliny the younger free online. Having never been present at any trials of the christians, i am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in. 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.
Book 10, letter 96 pliny is unsure how he should deal with the. The pious affection you bore, most sacred emperor, to your august father induced. Definitely recommended to those who are interested in looking into our ancient past. Sometime between 1495 and 1500 giovanni giocondo discovered a manuscript in paris of plinys tenth book of letters, containing his.
This comprehensive general commentary on the nine books of the younger pliny s private letters which cover nearly aspect of roman life except warfareoffers a selfcontained discussion of each letter or group of associated letters and their rich array of information about the authors social, political, and legal life and times. The letters of pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus are presented here in the english translation by j. Letters of pliny by pliny the younger full audio book. 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. Selections from plinys letters by pliny the younger. Jul 03, 2010 the letters of pliny the younger provide gripping insight into roman life and the last hours of a city. The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. Dec 04, 2003 buy the letters of pliny the younger penguin classics by pliny, the younger, radice, betty, radice, betty isbn. The letters of the younger pliny are a good source to look into during this period of roman history to see the dangers and excitement in which these people lived there certainly was a lot of it.
Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the letters of pliny the younger study guide and get instant access to the following critical essays. 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. Roman literary life book 1, letter 1 pliny has accepited his friends advice and collected some of his letters for publication. The pious affection you bore, most sacred emperor, to your august father induced you. Ad 611 was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such eminent figures as tacitus. Plinys letters have not lost their currency partly because the social topics are still timely, whether they are property values going up in tuscany, scandals over the acceptance of bribes or the adultery of public figures, an invitation to dinner, the playing of a prank, or just plain gossip. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This is the first general introduction to pliny s letters published in any language, combining close readings with broader context and adopting a fresh and innovative approach to reading the letters as an artistically structured collection.
Book 10, letter 111 such grants are technically illegal, but the official cannot be expected to return a 20year old grant now. Pliny the younger books list of books by author pliny. Book 1, letter 3 pliny is shocked that the people walk out in the middle of recitations. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century ce. The letters of the younger pliny penguin classics pdf. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of.
The romans used to lie or walk naked in the sun, after anointing their bodies with oil, which was esteemed as greatly contributing to health, and therefore daily practised by them. Librivox recording of letters of pliny by pliny the younger. 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 gives a character description of the syrian philosopher, euphrates, who acts as his spiritual adviser. Panegyricus loeb classical library by pliny the younger author, betty radice translator. Pliny the younger was governor of pontusbithynia from 1111 ad. Pliny on himself alpha classics by pliny the younger and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Through pliny s letters we are provided with extremely useful information that give us a better understanding of what exactly occurred on that day in august 79 ad. The numbering of the letters in this book has been changed slightly to bring it into line with the most recent editions.
It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. Letters of pliny by pliny the younger free at loyal books. Pliny s letters are important as a social document of his times. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. Pliny the younger wrote hundreds of letters, of which 247 survive and are of great historical. 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. Watch for the addressees of pliny s letters to learn more about the interaction of romes movers and shakers. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister. Vulcanologists call the type of eruption that pliny described plinian.
His letters prove to be a reliable primary source and is used for the reference of scientific as well as historic experts who wish to analyse the eruption. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caec. 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 introduction and letters really helps one become acquainted with pliny the man and value the live he lived nearly 2000 years ago.
Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. This book is compiled nicely, and without wordiness which can make studies of ancient rome dull. Epistulae x letters 10, also known as the correspondence with trajan is a book of letters by the roman lawyer and author pliny the. The letters of the younger pliny penguin classics by pliny the younger and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first. Literature was taken much more seriously in the time of the emperor claudius. One of the first things that pliny the younger writes about, is how great his uncle was.
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