Situating Josephus’ Life within Ancient Autobiography: Genre in Context

di Davina Grojnowski (Autore)

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2025

Davina Grojnowski examines Life, the autobiographical text written by ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, from a literary studies perspective and in relation to genre theory. In order to generate a framework of literary practices, Josephus’ Life and other texts within Josephus’ literary spheres—all associated with autobiography—are the focus of a detailed literary analysis which compares the texts in terms of established features, such as structure, topoi and subject. This methodological examination enables a better understanding of the literary boundaries of autobiography in antiquity and illustrates Josephus’ thought-process during the composition of Life. Grojnowski also offers a comparative study of autobiographical practices in Greek and Roman literature, demonstrating the value of passive education supplementing what had been taught actively and its impact on authors and audiences. As a result, she provides insight into the development of literary practices in reaction to various forms of education and subsequently reflects on the religious (self-) views of authors and audiences. Simultaneously, Grojnowski reacts to current discourses on ancient literary genres and demonstrates that ancient autobiography existed as a teachable literary genre in classical literature.

• Autore: Davina Grojnowski
• Editore: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Collana: Education, Literary Culture, and Religious Practice in the Ancient World
• Anno: 2025
• Rilegatura: Paperback / softback
• Pagine: 240 p.
• Dimensioni: 234 x 156 mm
• EAN: 9781350320192

Testo in English