Thalia Delighting in Song

Book excerpt: Emmet I. Robbins earned an international reputation as a scholar of ancient Greek poetry, possessing a broad cultural background and a command of many languages that allowed him to present sensitive and informed readings of poets from Homer to the tragedians. Thalia Delighting in Song assembles for the first time his work from 1975 through 1999, reflecting his close reading of the Greek texts and his firm grasp of their literary, historical and mythological contexts. Among the essays included in this volume are important reflections on the poetry of Homer, Alcman, Sappho, Pindar and Aeschylus. Also featured are Robbins' writings that situate Greek texts in their wider contexts, comparing Greek poetry and modern opera, for example, or assessing the enduring influence of myth in the Indo-European traditions, accounting for links between Greek literature and the poetry, sagas and songs of several other cultures. Thalia Delighting in Song ensures that the next generation of Classicists will continue to benefit from the insights of one of the foremost scholars in the field.