ROMAN SATIRE By Professor J. Wight Duff
These eight lectures, on the origins and development of Roman satire, display all the grace of exposition and the weight of learning which has made Professor Wight Duff's histories, of Latin literature in the Golden and the Silver ages, at once so readable and so authoritative. He is a brilliant populariser. He analyses in this book (Cambridge University Press, los. 6d.) the origins of Roman satire and examines the various implications and usages of the word, illustrating his contentions from English literature. He pays tribute to the influence of Greek writings on the Roman satirists especially in the earlier days of Roman satire. Each of the principal figures is considered at length. Lucilius in particular is treated in a very illuminating manner, and Professor Wight Duff duly relates him to Horace. In a chapter on Martial the satiric value of the epigram is assessed, and the various other satiric forms are each discussed with particular reference to the writers who best wielded them. This is a lucid, interesting and useful book which is a definite contribution to " general " literature on Roman satire.
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