The Reception of the Legend of Hero and Leander

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This book is a study of the literary reception of the originally Greek love-story of Hero and Leander, examining the nature of the tale and demonstrating its longevity and huge popularity from classical times to the present, in a great variety of different genres. Chapters consider the classical versions (Ovid, Musaios, Martial), medieval and renaissance versions in various European languages, folk and literary ballads (and even a pop song), the lyric, dramatic versions, settings to music, burlesques and travesties in all genres, modern reflections of the story in (experimental) literary forms.

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Brian Murdoch, PhD, LittD (Cambridge, 1968, 1991), FRHist.S is Emeritus Professor of German at Stirling University, Scotland. He has published many monographs, translations and articles on medieval literature, comparative literature, Old Testament apocrypha, and the literature of the world wars.
"Murdoch’s approach is to consider adaptations to historical contexts and innovations to the original narrative, secondarily examining influences between versions and assessing literary merit. Thorough in its coverage, if selective for lyrics and the 20th century, this is the first full treatment of the subject (...) A solid addition to comparative literature and classics." - P. E. Ojennus, in: CHOICEconnect, December 2019
"[...] un volume che è destinato a restare uno strumento indispensabile per quanti continueranno ad occuparsi della leggenda di Ero e Leandro." Domenico Accorinti, in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2020.04.30.
''Murdoch’s book is a welcome addition to the body of scholarship dealing with this ever-enduring legend of tragic love.'' Silvia Montiglio in International Journal of the Classical Tradition 2020.11.11.
Preface

1 Hero and Leander: Constants and Questions

2 The Classical World

3 Ovid (often) Moralised: the Middle Ages

4 Heroical Poems: the Renaissance and After

5 Ballads, Folk and Literary

6 Focal Points: Reflections in the Lyric

7 The Challenge of Drama

8 The Waves of Sea and Love: Grillparzer and After

9 Choice Pieces of Drollery: the Burlesques

10 Set to Music: Cantatas, Operas, and Musical Plays

11 Modern Experiments

12 Some Shallow Story of Deep Love?
Bibliography
Index
All interested in the reception of the Hero and Leander theme in classical narrative (Ovid, Musaios), and comparative European literature, including burlesques, drama, lyrics and novels to the present.
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