Abstract

The review article provides a glimpse into the contents of a recent book by Luciano Canfora, which represents the transcription of a course in classical philology that he had offered at the University of Bari during the academic year 1984-1985. The author treats two main topics which, although distinct, are closely intertwined. On the one hand, the author examines the history of the texts of classical writings, in particular of Aeschylus, Demosthenos, Lucretius, Plutarch, and also of Photius; on the other hand, he focuses on the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century textual-critical studies. The review article delves chiefly into the second topic, which the author further develops in the newer parts of the book and where the figures of Paul Mass, Giorgio Pasquali, and Paul Collomp are given special attention