General & Miscellaneous Poetry - Literary Criticism

Reading Sumerian Poetry

Name: Reading Sumerian Poetry
Author: Jeremy Black
ISBN: 9780485930030

by Jeremy Black

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Overview

An authority on ancient Mesopotamian culture, Jeremy Black here provides an introduction to the world's oldest poetry. Sumer, in southern Iraq, was the first literate civilization, with writing dating back as far as 3100 B.C. Its extensive poetic literature was lost for nearly two millennia; rediscovery and decipherment of the ancient writings began in the nineteenth century. Black is fully aware of the difficulties of applying modern literary methods to the study of ancient literature, emphasizing theoretical problems that arise from contemporary expectations of a unitary text. Looking closely at the imagery in the Lugalbanda poems, Black perceives in them a rich and sophisticated poetic imagination and technique, which, far from being in any sense "primitive," are so complex as to resist modern literary analysis.

Synopsis

An analysis of the oldest form of poetry. Sumer, in the southern part of Iraq, created the first literary culture in history, as early as 2500BC. The account is structured around a complete English translation of the fragmentary Lugalbanda poems, narrating the adventures of the eponymous hero. The study reveals a work of a rich and sophisticated poetic imagination and technique, which, far from being in any sense 'primitive', are so complex as to resist much modern literary analysis.

About the Author, Jeremy Black

Jeremy Black is Professor of History at the University of Exeter, UK, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of America and the West at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, USA. His books include War: A Short History, The War of 1812 and The Great War and the Making of the Modern World (all published by Continuum).

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Editorials

From the Publisher

"This excellent book does just what the author had hoped for and intended to do: it provides a sound and indispensible introduction to a difficult subject that conveys a fair idea of the extent, complexities and subtleties of Sumerian poetry thereby demonstrating his acute sensitivity to the nuances of critical theory and practice. For this solid accomplishment, and for being courageous enough to take the first step, he has our profound thanks. Almost every page provokes thoughtful comment."-A.J. Ferrara, University of Pennsylvania. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 61:4, October 2002