Greek Fiction

This excerpt from a review of a book about Greek fiction discusses the increasing attention that Greek fiction is receiving due to new approaches associated with gender studies, narrative theory, and the social analysis of ancient literature. The book includes essays on the definition of the Greek novel, its origins, and its various uses throughout history.

Greek fiction has been attracting greater attention as a result of new approaches associated with gender studies, narrative theory and the social analysis of ancient literature. Recent work on the novel, or romance has concentrated on the so-called canon of Greek fiction: Xenophon of Ephesus, Heliodorus, Longus, Chariton and Achilles Tatius. Much attention has been focused on the definition of the genre and its possible origins. This volume aims to widen the terms of the definition of the genre while providing a synoptic treatment of the most important works of Greek fiction. Greeks began writing prose fiction in the fourth century BC and the tradition continued for a millenium and a half. Fiction was used not only for entertaining romances but also as a framework for Christian and Jewish religious literature and for historical novels. Review: ... includes essays that will aid the scholar and student in the exploration of the ancient novel. - Classical Bulletin Especially valuable is the final set of five ground-breaking essays on less-explored subjects such as Egyption Fiction, the Jewish novellas, early Christian fiction, and the later Byzantine novel. Greek Novel succeeds in providing a wider context for a quickly growing field and is highly recommended to the beginner and expert alike.. - Religious Studies Review