COULTER, H.G.,
Expressions of Time in Ancient Greek.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020. 1st paperback ed. IX,331p. Paperback. 'The remainder of the book focuses upon individual authors or genres and examines their preferential time expressions; I offer only an overview here. Chapter 2, ‘Expressions of Time in Thucydides’, provides an in-depth look at this author and exemplifies George’s methodology. Chapter 3, ‘Expressions of Time: Style, Genre, and Diachrony’, is the heart of the book and a survey of Classical through Second Sophistic authors and papyri. At 127 pages (a little shy of half the book) it breaks the rhythm somewhat and is best approached with a specific view to a particular author within; overall, it represents a masterful analysis of enormous quantities of data. Of excellent value are the little ‘Summary’ sections at the conclusion of each author, which highlight preferences relating to temporal expressions and differences from other writers. Chapter 4, ‘Expressions of Time in Biblical Greek’, investigates the Septuagint and New Testament, while Chapter 5, ‘A Retrospective: Going Back in Time’, offers a brief excursus on Homer and what can be gleaned from some of the earliest preserved literary Greek. Chapter 6, ‘Summary’, is aimed at linguists who don’t know Greek, but is extremely useful for all in summarising the most salient findings of the book and in providing a diachronic discussion that threads together the previous chapters.The book is of immense interest as a resource for dealing with individual authors and their synchronic contexts, and will probably find its fullest employment in this role (though Chapter 1 is essential for all as a background to the study). (...) It will take pride of place in all discussions of grammatical Greek time in the future.' (SIMON OSWALD in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2015.09.44).
€ 32.50
(New)