Stephen Halliwell, Professor of Greek, University of St. Andrews.

Stephen Halliwell is Professor of Greek at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. He taught previously at the universities of Oxford, London, Cambridge, and Birmingham, and has held visiting professorships in Belgium, Canada, Italy, and the USA. He has published extensively on Greek literature, philosophy, and culture, as well as on the influence of Greek texts in the later history of ideas. His last two books both won international prizes: Greek Laughter: A Study of Cultural Psychology from Homer to Early Christianity was awarded the Criticos Prize for 2008; The Aesthetics of Mimesis: Ancient Texts and Modern Problems (2002) won the Premio Europeo d'Estetica in 2008, and has been translated into Italian.

"Review from previous edition [Halliwell] is the ideal close reader... This book represents criticism at its best... detailed, learned, and nuanced arguments... a pleasure to read." - D. Konstan, Gnomon

"[a] deeply learned collection of essays ... a book so rich in innovative readings of Greek literary theory." - Llewelyn Morgan, Times Literary Supplement

"[a] probing overview of the Greek critical tradition... add[s] complexity and nuance to longstanding concerns...a subtle and humane defense of poetry... Halliwell's arguments [are] closely reasoned, comprehensively informed, and clear." - Andrew Ford, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

"[p]rovides numerous insights... Halliwell's analyses are always intelligent, sharp and illuminating." - R. Nünlist, CJ-Online

"Halliwell's project is a very successful one... critical, engaging, cogent... full of insights and interest... [it] offers new, sensitive and challenging interpretations of the most important texts in Greek poetics..." - H. H. Koning, Journal of Hellenic Studies

"...thoughtful and often innovative approaches... I found his arguments persuasive and his scholarship very impressive... a consistently useful guide through the vast ocean of scholarship on this important area." - S. Chambers, Journal of Classical Teachers

"[an] important new book... very rich and original... subtle, precise, and judicious in its boldness." - P. Boitani, Il sole 24

"a]n engaging study of the interplay between Greek views of poetry as a source of ecstasy and as a medium for truth and human values." - S. E. Goins, CHOICE