Representing Roman Landscape by Gianluigi Baldo

Representing Roman Landscape by Gianluigi Baldo

Landscape is a central topic in the humanities, particularly in the study of Latin literature, which has likewise been deeply affected by the so-called "spatial turn." Given the breadth of the subject, the volume does not aim at encyclopaedic completeness, but rather seeks to establish a methodological framework while offering concrete case studies on specific contexts and authors. The book follows a clear chronological structure, providing a concise, substantial, and up-to-date analysis of most major Latin authors from the Augustan age--understood as a decisive moment in the definition of landscape representation in Roman literature--through to Late Antiquity. At the same time, an extensive introduction and numerous internal cross-references allow readers to pursue parallel paths, for instance by following themes or literary genres. Alongside literary analysis, the volume includes contributions that build bridges to the Greek world (such as on Italy as seen by Strabo), to archaeology and ancient art history, and to the history of landscape. The volume thus constitutes a timely and valuable resource for a broad academic audience, offering both a methodological tool and a reference work for teaching and research in classical studies.

Gianluigi Baldo, University of Padua, Italy; Andrea Cucchiarelli, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Bruna Pieri, University of Bologna, Italy; Stephen J. Harrison, University of Oxford, UK.