Synopsis
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Roman scholar Censorinus bestowed upon his best friend a charming birthday present: "The Birthday Book", which appears here in its long-awaited first English translation. Laying out everything Censorinus knew about birthdays, the book starts simply; but by the conclusion of this brief yet brilliant gem, Censorinus has sketched a glorious vision of a universe ruled by harmony and order, where the microcosm of the child in the womb corresponds to the macrocosm of the planets. Alternately serious and playful, Censorinus touches on music, history, astronomy, astrology, and every aspect of time as it was understood in third-century Rome. He also provides ancient answers to perennial questions: Why does the day begin at midnight? Where did Leap Year come from? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Embodying the proverbial gift that keeps on giving, "The Birthday Book" has long been treasured by scientists, poets, and scholars, and Holt N. Parker's graceful and lively new translation - accompanied by an illuminating introduction and detailed notes - is itself a present for Latinists, historians of science, and anyone looking for an unusual birthday gift.
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About the Author
Holt N. Parker is professor of classics at the University of Cincinnati.
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The Birthday Book
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University of Chicago Press, 2007
ISBN 10: 0226099741
ISBN 13: 9780226099743
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Very Good - Crisp, clean, unread book with some shelfwear/edgewear, may have a remainder mark - NICE Standard-sized. Seller Inventory # M0226099741Z2