The Loaded Table: Representations of Food in Roman Literature - Hardcover

Gowers, Emily

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198146957 ISBN 13: 9780198146957

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1993

Synopsis

This book offers an unconventional approach to Roman culture, through food - or rather, food as it is represented in literature. Food is not generally thought of as the noblest of literary subjects, and this view is a legacy from the Romans, so it is curious that Roman writers chose so persistently to depict their society at the dinner-table. Why this was so, and what effect the inclusion of food had on the status of the literary texts that contained it, are among the questions discussed here. The book also addresses any of the problems that arise when a material subject is translated into words, and contains fresh interpretations of Latin texts that have been unjustly undervalued - comedy, satire, epigrams, letters and iambics. While often regarded as something trivial and gross, food was in fact one of the most suggestive images for Roman civilization.

About this title

Review

One might say that she works at many levels, but never on the surface. The persistence and ingenuity with which she seeks out underlying meanings, symbolisms, codes, and all suchlike phenomena in her chosen texts is admirable, ie one can but admire it; and her own writing is clear and sometimes witty...will be a standard reference for a very long time to come and the Clarendon Press are to congratulated on the elegance of their production, jsut as the author is to be felicitated on a truly massive job of research (Petits Propos Culinaires)

This is a witty and engaging book, written with a certain vigor of conviction and purpose...The best thing about the book is G.'s fine literary sensitivity, spirited writing, humour, and openness to conflicting approaches to literature: she looks at old things in new ways...even at those times when I cannot agree with her, she forces me to think and to reason why I cannot. This is a rich book without being fat.

From the Back Cover

This book offers a novel and unconventional approach to Roman culture through food as it is represented in literature. Although food is not generally thought of as the noblest of literary subjects--and this view is a legacy from the Romans--it is curious that Roman writers chose so persistently to depict their society at the dinner-table. Why this was so, and what effect the inclusion of food has on the status of the literary texts that contained it, are among the questions discussed.

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0198146957
• ISBN 13: 9780198146957
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 346