The greatest empire
Subtitle: a life of Seneca
By: Emily Wilson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 253
ISBN-13: 9780199926640
Subjects: Criticism and interpretation
Other titles: Life of Seneca
Description: "The life and works of Seneca pose a number of fascinating challenges. For one thing, how can we reconcile the bloody, passionate tragedies, with the prose works advocating a life of Stoic tranquility? An even more challenging question is, how are we to reconcile Seneca the Stoic philosopher, the man of principle, who advocated a life of calm and simplicity, with Seneca the man of the moment, who amassed a vast personal fortune in the service of an emperor seen by many, at the time and afterwards, as an insane tyrant? In this biography, Emily Wilson will present Seneca as a man under enormous pressure, struggling for compromise in a world of absolutism. His work and his life both show, in fascinating ways, the fissures and cracks created by the clash of the ideal and the real: the gulf between political hopes and fears, and philosophical ideals; the gap between what we want to be, and what we are. The book will assume no prior knowledge either of ancient Roman society, Stoicism, Seneca's life or work, but will weave these features together into a lively narrative, while presenting new insights into an author whose reputation is currently experiencing a revival within the academy"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-245) and index.
Table of contents: title: "A rough road to greatness" "Parental love is wise"; title: "Nowhere and everywhere"; title: "Vices tempt you by the rewards they offer"; title: "There's no easy path from Earth to the stars."