Author: JvW

Doctorate Lucie Desbrosses

Lucie Desbrosses has got her doctorate at the University of Besançon (supervisor Stéphane Ratti). The title of her thesis is: ‘Sidoine Apollinaire et la Gaule chrétienne au Ve siècle’.

Abstract: ‘This dissertation investigates how Sidonius Apollinaris’ poetry and letters shed light on the Christian identity of Gaul in Late Antiquity, and how the author takes part in defining it. It focuses on Christian reactions to traditional culture and the “pagan” background in particular, paying special attention to claims of renunciation and to actual comprises with past patterns. It first of all paints a picture of fifth-century Christianity in Gaul, studying how, and how deeply, the religio nova had penetrated the Gallic provinces, pointing out the remains of heterodox and “pagan” beliefs. It also examines the cultural (dis)continuity in the individual transition from lay status to conversio and clerical status, for which Sidonius, belonging to the lay social élite, and then to the clerical sphere, is a key figure. It pays special attention to writing poetry to enhance Christian identity, but also to express one’s nostalgic attachment to the ancient world, its literature, its culture, and its past pleasures.’

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Reading Sidonius’ Epistles

Michael Hanaghan has written a monograph on Sidonius’ Epistles, about to be published by Cambridge University Press in January 2019. From the blurb in the catalogue:

‘This book provides a fuller understanding of [Sidonius’] contribution to Latin literature, as a careful arranger of his self-image, a perceptive exploiter of narrative dynamics, and an influential figure in Late Antique Gaul.’

Michael is currently employed by the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, at the Institute for Religion & Critical Enquiry. Email: Michael.Hanaghan@acu.edu.au.

A First: A Hungarian Translation

Hungary’s most prominent Sidonius scholar, Ágnes Horváth (Szeged), has kindly revised her translations of Letters Books 4 and 7, and of Ep. 9.13, for publication on the Sidonius website.

SIDONIUS APOLLINARIS: EPISTOLAE
Az Epistolae IV. és VII. könyvének, valamint az Ep. IX. 13. levél fordítása
Translation of Epistolae Books IV and VII, and Ep. IX. 13.
Fordította: T. Horváth Ágnes
Translated: Agnes T. Horvath

Download the translations on the Contributions page.

Sidonius for Creative Writing

A brand-new historical novel on Sidonius is forthcoming. Annabelle Grierson (in arte J A Grierson) has recently got her Creative Writing Master degree at Auckland University of Technology with a two-part novel breathing life into fifth-century history, with Sidonius among its protagonists. She was inspired by his letters, and the novels actually quote them, including the famous letter to Bishop Graecus (Ep. 7.7), which is cited almost in full. The first volume, entitled The Wars with Attila, centred around a fictionalised Avitus, is expected to be published next Spring. The second volume, centred around Sidonius, will be called The Last Roman.
For information, go here.

Lo specchio del modello

Anita Di Stefano and Marco Onorato are organizing an international Sidonius conference in Messina, 4-5 October. Speakers include Franca Ela Consolino, Jesús Hernández Lobato, Maria Jennifer Falcone, Stefania Santelia, Marco Onorato, Gavin Kelly, Matthijs Zoeter, Aaron Pelttari, Rosa Santoro, Luciana Furbetta, Silvia Condorelli, Étienne Wolff, Anita Di Stefano, and Joop van Waarden.

See further in the Events Calendar

Beyond the Horned Helmet

Camille Bonnan-Garçon (Lyon) writes about Sidonius’ favourable image of Theodoric and about the changing roles of letters and panegyrics for praising monarchs in Interférences 11, 2018. She has just finished her doctoral dissertation: ‘L’épigramme et la lettre d’Ausone à Ennode de Pavie: étude stylistique, littéraire et historique d’une contiguïté générique dans l’antiquité tardive’, doctoral thesis June 2018 (supervisors Marie Ledentu and Bruno Bureau, Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3).