In this course we shall examine the classical foundations of modern biography. Our study is grounded in Suetonius' landmark and scandalous works on the Caesars and the poets, as well as Plutarch's moralizing Parallel Lives. Due attention will also be paid both to representations of and by women and to autobiography. We shall consider the genre in the context of history, propaganda, moral exemplar, philosophy, literature, and fantasy. These genres are represented by a variety of authors, including Sappho, Pindar, Juvenal, and Martial, whose works directly address the concerns of the societies in which they live.
All readings are in English.