'The Letters of Alciphron: A Unified Literary Work?' (Michèle Biraud and Arnaud Zucker editors) offer a dozen papers on an misknown author of the Second Sophistic, Alciphron, aiming to show the unity of his literary project.

Chapter INTRODUCTION -- chapter 1 CLASSICAL GREEK LITERARY LETTERS -- chapter 2 HELLENISTIC LITERARY LETTERS -- chapter 3 Letters and prose fictions of the Second Sophistic -- chapter 4 THE EPISTOLARY NOVELLA -- chapter 5 PSEUDO-HISTORICAL LETTER COLLECTIONS OF THE SECOND SOPHISTIC -- chapter 6 INVENTED CORRESPONDENCES, IMAGINARY VOICES.

In ‘The Letters of Alciphron: A Unified Literary Work?’, Michèle Biraud and Arnaud Zucker have gathered a dozen international contributions about the collection of letters of Alciphron, hitherto mainly studied as part of the epistolary genre at the time of the Second Sophistic or as testimony of a nostalgia for the Athens of Menander's time. The aim is to show the unity of a literary project through studies on the careful arrangement of each book (overall organization, coherent reappropriation of a culture, innovations in generic hybridization) and various elements of cohesion between the four books. For this purpose, were used as tools codicological criticism, stylistic and rhetorical examination, analysis of prosody, study of thematic treatments, uses of onomastics.

The book explores a relatively unfamiliar and under-appreciated area of Greek literature, imaginary letters written between about 100 BC and 500 AD. They are imaginary or fictional either because both writer and recipient are invented, or because they are attributed to real historical characters. In the latter group, the real authors are unknown, whereas we know at least the names of those in the first group. Letter writing, real and fictional, was an important activity in this period, which was also the time that the sophists or professional rhetoricians were very influential in the political and educational life particularly of the Greek east. Many of our authors clearly were sophists practising their skills, especially in character portrayal. This selection opens a window on an attractive, lively, and often amusing area in the history of Greek prose. All the letters are translated, and the commentaries provide both grammatical help and background information.

A comprehensive look at the use of imaginary letters in Greek literature, first published in 2001.

The first complete English translation of Aristaenetus in nearly three centuries Through allusion and adaption of earlier authors, Aristaenetus recounts tales that are the stuff of comedy, erotic poetry, and ancient novel. Here we read of lovers who use every trope of erotic literature to praise their beloveds in over-the-top speeches. Aristaenetus amazes us with tales of paramours hatching complicated schemes to achieve their desires, while wily go-betweens help smooth their way. He presents us with accounts of unfaithful spouses who barely avoid capture in the midst of hair-raising and amusing infidelities. This sixth century collection is perfect for anyone interested in classical and postclassical literature. Features: English translation and Greek text on facing pages Introduction with history of the text Discussion of intertextual connections with Greco-Roman authors

Epistolary Narratives presents detailed literary readings of a wide range of Greek literary letter collections across a range of genres, cultural backgrounds, and time periods, leading collectively towards a better appreciation of Greek epistolary collections as a unique literary phenomenon.