An influential German classical scholar and textual critic, Johann Carl Otto Ribbeck (1827–98) published several important works on Roman poetry, notably Geschichte der römischen Dichtung. His two volumes of Virgil's works (second edition, 1894–5) are reissued in this series. First published in 1875, the present work provides a detailed account of the emergence and development of Roman tragedy during the Republic. The book begins with an introduction that discusses how Greek tragedy served as a model for Roman writers. Ribbeck then goes on to outline the most important authors and their works. Among these are Livius Andronicus, celebrated as the father of Latin literature, and Quintus Ennius, regarded as the mediator between Greek and Roman poetry. The final sections of the book deal with the art form of Roman tragedy and its performance on stage.
