Background
Putnam, Michael Courtney Jenkins was born on September 20, 1933 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Roger Lowell and Caroline (Jenkins) Putnam.
( The lives of Catullus and Horace overlap by a dozen yea...)
The lives of Catullus and Horace overlap by a dozen years in the first century BC. Yet, though they are the undisputed masters of the lyric voice in Roman poetry, Horace directly mentions his great predecessor, Catullus, only once, and this reference has often been taken as mocking. In fact, Horace's allusion, far from disparaging Catullus, pays him a discreet compliment by suggesting the challenge that his accomplishment presented to his successors, including Horace himself. In Poetic Interplay, the first book-length study of Catullus's influence on Horace, Michael Putnam shows that the earlier poet was probably the single most important source of inspiration for Horace's Odes, the later author's magnum opus. Except in some half-dozen poems, Catullus is not, technically, writing lyric because his favored meters do not fall into that category. Nonetheless, however disparate their preferred genres and their stylistic usage, Horace found in the poetry of Catullus, whatever its mode of presentation, a constant stimulus for his imagination. And, despite the differences between the two poets, Putnam's close readings reveal that many of Horace's poems echo Catullus verbally, thematically, or both. By illustrating how Horace often found his own voice even as he acknowledged Catullus's genius, Putnam guides us to a deeper appreciation of the earlier poet as well.
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( The work of the Latin elegiac poet Tibullus (c. 55-19 b...)
The work of the Latin elegiac poet Tibullus (c. 55-19 b.c.) is characterized by an artful, witty "simplicity," and it relies on repetition, ambiguity, irony, and paradox for its effect. His poetry appealed to his countrymen in his own time, as it still does to students today, and this textbook is designed to explain and enhance that appeal. The commentary presented here is limited to the sixteen poems which comprise the first two books of the corpus Tibullianum, that is, to poems authentically by Tibullus. The notes focus on the needs of students approaching Latin elegy for the first time, but they will also prove useful to the more experienced student of Latin or to scholars in other languages. The editor has tried to balance matters of fact with occasional fresh interpretations. One introduction records what is known of the poet’s life and discusses the rise of Latin elegy. The meter of the poems is explained, and Tibullus’ style is examined.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0806115602/?tag=2022091-20
Putnam, Michael Courtney Jenkins was born on September 20, 1933 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Roger Lowell and Caroline (Jenkins) Putnam.
AB, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1954. AM, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1956. Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1959.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, 1985.
Instructor classics, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, 1959-1960;
faculty classics, Brown U., Providence, since 1960;
professor, Brown U., since 1967;
chairman, Brown U., 1968, 70-72, 77-78;
chairman, Brown U., 1994-1995;
professor comparative literature, Brown U., since 1980;
MacMillan professor of classics, Brown U., since 1985;
acting director, Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University, 1961-1962;
senior fellow, Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University, 1971-1986;
Townsend professor classics, Cornell Univercity, 1985;
Mellon professor-in-charge, American Academy in Rome, 1989-1991. Scholar in residence American Academy in Rome, 1969-1970, member classical jury,1982-1983, trustee, since 1991. Associate university seminar on classical civilization Columbia University, New York City, since 1972.
Member catholic Commision on Intellectual andCultural Affairs, since 1969. Member of advisory county department classics Princeton University, 1981-1987, chairman, 1983-1987. Consultant American Council Learned Socs., 1987-1989.
Member Institute for Advanced Study, 1987-1988. Visiting scholar Phi Beta Kappa, 1994-1995. Councillor Association of Literature Scholars and Critics, since 1996.
( The Description for this book, Essays on Latin Lyric, E...)
( The lives of Catullus and Horace overlap by a dozen yea...)
( The work of the Latin elegiac poet Tibullus (c. 55-19 b...)
(Book by Putnam, Michael C. J.)
Trustee American Academy Rome, since 1991, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1967-1987, board advisors, since 1987. Trustee Bay Chamber Concerts, Camden, Maine, 1972-1988, incorporator, 1988-1994. Member board consultant Portsmouth Abbey School, 1985-1989.
Honorary secretary Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, Rome, 1989-1991. Fellow American Academy Arts and Science since 1996. Member American Philological Association (board director 1972-1975, member committee on award of merit 1975-1978, chairman 1977-1978, 1st vice president 1981, president 1982, delegate American Council Learned Society 1984-1987, Charles J. Goodwin award of merit 1971, finance trustee 1997-2004, co-chair, endowment campaign, since 2006), member American Philosophical Society, since 1998.
Archaeol. Institute American, Classical Association New England, Medieval Academy American, Vergilian Society of America (trustee 1969-1973, vice president 1974-1976), Accademia Nazionale Virgiliana, Art Club.