BLWith Latin text and English translation

The epic poem the Thebaid was composed by Statius about AD 80 to 92 in twelve books. The subject is the expedition of the Seven against Thebes in support of the attempt by Oedipus' son Polyneices to recover the throne from his brother Eteocles. Book IX is set in the midst of the fighting before the eventual death of the two brothers. In this new edition of Book IX Dr Dewar accompanies the Latin text with apparatus criticus, a translation, and an extensive introduction and commentary. The introduction contains sections on Statius' life and works, a summary of the epic, its themes and characters, and poetry, the textual tradition, and Statius' influence on later European literature. The commentary, the first on the ninth book to be published in Britain this century, is written in the light of recent scholarship. It examines in close detail Statius' style and language, use of models (especially Homer, Hellenistic Greek poetry, Virgil, Lucan, and Seneca), and literary intentions. It is Dr Dewar's hope that this edition will help to explain the poem's great popularity in the Middle Ages, and even restore something of its lost prestige.

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Michael Dewar is at University of Calgary.

'the most ambitious commentary on any part of the Thebaid to appear in almost ten years ... As a guide to Statius' language and manner of expression, his engagement with the previous literary tradition, and other such matters, this commentary seems to me excellent. Duscussions of Statian ... show a close attention to significant detail and help to illuminate what we may imagine were Statius' working methods ... It will ... be of great interest to Latinists who take a serious interest in matters such as epic diction and style, imitative technique, and the light that such considerations shed upon literary history.' Joseph Farrell, University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr Classical Review 4.1 (1993)

'This is a most welcome work by a painstaking scholar who, because he likes the Thebaid, attends closely to it and does not dismiss difficulties as evidence of tastelessness, slavish imitation or worse. Henceforth, no one should judge the Thebaid without attending to this edition. There is a very straightforward introduction dealing crisply with the general issues followed by a text with a clear apparatus and an accurate translation, but not one with any claims to stand on its own. It is there to aid understanding of the Latin. The heart of the work is the notes. They are a constant challenge and delight ... it is such a delight to engage in debate with a scholar who combines perception and enthusiasm in so high a degree.' D.E. Hill, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, The Classical Review, 1992

'Dewar's admirable edition of book 9 - is the first worthy commentary on part of the Thebaid in English since R.D. Williams' little known edition of Book X. His introduction and commentary reflect an impressive command of epic tradition before and after Statius ... shrewd textual and philological judgement and a responsiveness to both the sentimentality and the dark extremism of Statius' text. The commentary ... keeps a fine balance between source-criticism and formal or aesthetic comment, and is matched by the sensitive and helpful translation. Here is a commentator alert to the nuances of Statius' ingenium and his powerful epithets. Dare we hope that this handsome edition will bring back to the Thebaid? If they can relish Lucan they are ready for the challenge, and this volume should be both a guide to future readers and stimulus for other critics to emulate.' Elaine Fantham, Princeton University, The Classical Journal

'This edition of Statius, "Thebaid 9", which developed from a commentary accepted for a D Phil at Oxford, conforms to all the requirements of the genre...students of Statius will find much of lexical and philological value. The discussion throughout of his diction, style, metre and 'imitatio' represents a major contribution to Statian scholarship. Hence Dewar's place among contemporary scholars of the poet is assured through this single work alone.' William J Dominik, Scholia

'Dewar's commentary strikes a fine balance between philology and pedagogy. Points of grammar, history, and scholarly controversy are accorded equal treatment. One hopes that future volumes explicating the other books of Statius's epic will appear in the same series. Oxford's strong tradition of supporting Statian studies, like this volume, will help ensure that Statius' epic voice receives the fresh attention it has for so long deserved.' Joseph Pucci, Brown University, Classical World

'an important step in the reintroduction of Flavian poetry into the standard classical curriculum ... What all can expect from this book ... is an excellent and thoughtful commentary, appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of Latin, and extremely important for scholars of Flavian literature and of all Imperial Latin poetry ... his commentary deserves to be recognized as a valuable contribution to Statian scholarship.' Donald T. McGuire, Jr. University of Southern California, New England Classical Newsletter and Journal, Volume XIX, May 1992, Number 1