Oxford Classical Texts vs. Loeb Classical Library

[Dan Amodeo]

Thanks to all who gave me very helpful replies to my recent request for
suggestions for reading LOTS of Latin. I have another question, though
perhaps it's a little silly.

Suppose you want to buy a Latin text that is available from Oxford
Classical Texts and from the Loeb Classical Library. Would you be more
inclined to buy one than the other based on the publisher? I know the
Loeb Classical Library includes side-by-side English translations, which
can help people like me, but forget about that for purposes of my
question. Do consider everything else, though: the quality of the Latin
text itself, the notes, the size and appearence and legibility of the
print, the durability and ease of handling of the book, etc. Or do you
have no general preference of one of these publishers over the other?

Dan Amodeo dam...@hotmail.com

[PaulZ]

If I were in your position, I'd chose the Loeb. The notes and the
translation will do you more good than the OCT. The chief value of the OCT
is the critical apparatus at the bottom of the page, which gives alternative
readings. Even better than both, however, is a text with a really good
commentary. Every major (and even probably all minor) classical author's
works are produced with a commentary by a very learned scholar, and most of
those scholars devote some commentary to discussions of alternative readings
in the text. Go with the editions that have the commentaries--they will do
you much more good than the OCT or Loeb, as the commentaries give you the
benefit of the scholar's expertise in the language, culture, history,
context, etc.
PZ

[Robert Stonehouse]

You may find people look down on the Loeb series. The recent ones
have generally been very good, and there have always been good ones,
but it would be best to get opinions on the particular one you are
thinking of buying. Not that the same can't apply to the OCT!

I suggested a Pliny that had no translation - you didn't ask for one
- but had a helpful commentary. Neither the OCT nor the Loeb has a
commentary, but some of the Loebs have introduction and footnotes
that fill a lot of the gap, so long as what they say is reasonable
and up to date.
ew...@bcs.org.uk

[Dan Amodeo]

Robert Stonehouse and Paul Z both gave me similar advice, for which I
think them. It souns like very good advice. I have an Oxford volume of
Cicero's letters; I like it, but when I read a letter I find myself
wishing a knew a whole lot more about its historical and personal
context. I have Loeb's De rerum natura, and I find the notes,
introduction, and even the marginal summaries very helpful.

Speaking of De rerum natura, does anyone have suggestions for a good
commentary? I find myself kind of lost when I try to read it. I don't
have a problem with the philosophy (that was my major in college), but
when I read a passage I feel like I'm somehow reading it "from the
outside," instead of getting into what Lucretius is doing. Part of the
problem is I haven't spent enough time with it yet, and I'm afraid my
Latin isn't good enough yet to appreciate the poetry yet. Perhaps a good
commentary could help me get a good perspective.

When I read books in English, a almost never read a commentary first, or
even an introduction or notes, because I don't want my first impression
influenced by secondary sources. But I don't think I can afford that
luxury with De rerum natura.

PaulZ wrote:

> Every major (and even probably all minor) classical author's
> works are produced with a commentary by a very learned scholar, and most of
> those scholars devote some commentary to discussions of alternative readings
> in the text.

I am glad to hear it, and I appreciate the reference from Robert
Stonehouse to Sherwin-White's book. I suppose one has to hunt these
commentaries down. Any general hints on how to find good ones (besides
asking on this newsgroup, of course)?

Dan Amodeo

[Edwin Menes]

I'd suggest investing in a copy of the Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3rd
edition, which costs + or - $75.00. At the end of every entry there is
a select bibliography. For the authors whose works are extant, the
bibliography includes the standard commentary. Bibliographies in the
standard commentaries will point you to other commentaries.

Second suggestion: use Google to find the web pages of Oxford University
Press, Cambridge University Press, Bryn Mawr Classical Commentaries,
Focus Press (which also distributes for Bristol Classical Press in the
U.S.), and Bochazy-Carducci. Most commentaries in English come out of
one these five houses. They all produce printed catalogues, but the
website may be faster. Oldies-but-goodies, like Cyril Bailey on
Lucretius, you will have to find in the library.

Third suggestion: I'm sure the library at Maryland has a subscription to
Classical World. Every other year, one issue has a list of books in
print for the teaching of literature in the original languages. The
section on each language is subdivided by author, elementary texts,
intermediate texts and readers, grammars, and dictionaries.

Fourth suggestion: There's a good Classics Department at Maryland. Have
a chat with Judith Hallett or Elizabeth Vandiver--whom I know only by
reputation as being kind to students and eager to discuss Classics with
anyone who will listen. I'd be surprised if the other members of the
department were not equally open.

[Søren Hindsholm]

Dan Amodeo wrote:

> Speaking of De rerum natura, does anyone have suggestions for a good
> commentary? I find myself kind of lost when I try to read it. I don't
> have a problem with the philosophy (that was my major in college), but
> when I read a passage I feel like I'm somehow reading it "from the
> outside," instead of getting into what Lucretius is doing. Part of the
> problem is I haven't spent enough time with it yet, and I'm afraid my
> Latin isn't good enough yet to appreciate the poetry yet. Perhaps a good
> commentary could help me get a good perspective.

There is no final answer to the question whether you should read Latin
authors in Loeb or OCT. It all depends on the editor of the particular
text. As far as Lucretius is concerned the OCT by C. Bailey (1922) is
not very good. I would choose Loeb by Rouse/Smith (1975). But Bailey's
big commentary in three volumens (1947) is good at explaining
philosophical matters. My teacher in this author, prof. E.J. Kenney,
Cambridge, has written a fine commentary on III, Cambridge University
Press (1971). He will inter alia explain language and poetry of this
fine author. And do you know his survey: Lucretius, Greece & Rome New
Survey 11 (1977)? Finally The Oxford Classical Dictionary 3rd edition
(Hornblower and Spawforth) has a list of commentaries on individual books.

Yours,

S. Hindsholm
DK-9000 Aalborg