The Roman Poets of the Republic, 2nd edition

"The Roman Poets of the Republic, 2nd edition" by W. Y. Sellar is an exploration of Roman poetry of the Republic. It examines the qualities, impacts, and importance of these poets, especially their relationship to Greek writing and how they helped create Rome's cultural identity. The work explores diverse poets across different eras, providing looks into their themes, writing styles, and the social background they wrote in. Sellar discusses the changing views on the value of Latin poetry over time, discussing how it was compared to Greek poetry. While Roman poetry was often seen as copying rather than inventing, it still has a unique charm and emotional weight that mirrors the complex nature of Roman life and persona. Sellar outlines the early growth of Roman literary forms and the shift from local poetic customs to the effect of Greek artistry, marking the unique inputs of individual poets, and the broader cultural effects of their works.