Title:
Natural history : a selection / Pliny the Elder ; translated with an introduction and notes by John F. Healy.
Author:
Pliny, the Elder., author.
Healy, John F.
Pliny, the Elder. Naturalis historia. English.
Publication Information:
New York : Penguin Books, ©2004.
Call Number:
QH41 .P721713 2004
Abstract:
Pliny's Natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Mingling acute observation with often wild speculation, it offers a fascinating view of the world as it was understood in the first century AD, whether describing the danger of diving for sponges, the first water-clock, or the use of asses' milk to remove wrinkles. Pliny himself died while investigating the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79, and the natural curiosity that brought about his death is also very much evident in the Natural history - a book that proved highly influential right up until the Renaissance and that his nephew, Pliny the younger, described 'as full of variety as nature itself'. John F. Healy has made a fascinating and varied selection from the Natural history for this clear, modern translation. In his introduction, he discusses the book and its sources topic by topic. This edition also includes a full index and notes.
Electronic Access:
Publisher description http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1206/91220670-d.htmlTable of contents only http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1206/91220670-t.html
Edition:
Reprinted, with revisions.
ISBN:
9780140444131
Series:
Penguin classics
Penguin classics.
Physical Description:
xliii, 399 pages ; 20 cm.
General Note:
Translated from Latin.
Contents:
Introduction -- Further reading -- Translator's note -- Natural History -- Preface -- The Universe and the World -- Book II. Astronomy -- Book III. Spain and Italy -- Book IV. Europe and Britain -- Book V. The Continents of Africa and Asia -- Book VI. The Black Sea, India, and the Far East -- Zoology -- Book VII. Man -- Book VIII. Land animals -- Book IX. Creatures of the Sea -- Book X. Birds -- Book XI. Insects -- Botany -- Books XII-XIII. Trees -- Book XIV. Vines and Viticulture -- Book XV. The Olive and Other Fruit-Trees -- Book XVI. Forest Trees -- Book XVIII. Agriculture -- Materia Medica -- Book XX. Drugs Obtained from Garden Plants -- Books XXI-XXII. Flowers and Herbs -- Book XXIII. The Vine and the Walnut -- Book XXIV. Drugs Obtained from Foreign Trees -- Book XXV. The Nature of Wild Plants -- Book XXVI. Diseases and Their Remedies -- Book XXVII. More Plants Used in Medicine -- Book XXVIII. Drugs Obtained from Man; Magic and Superstition -- Book XXIX. Medicine, Doctors and Medical Practice -- Book XXX. Magic -- Book XXXI. Water -- Book XXXII. Fish and Aquatic Creatures -- Mining and Minerals -- Book XXXIII. Gold and Silver -- Book XXXIV. Copper and Bronze Sculpture, Tin, Lead and Iron -- Book XXXV. Painting, Sculpture and Architecture -- Book XXXVI. Stones, Minerals and Monuments -- Book XXXVII. Precious Stones -- Key to Place-Names -- Index.
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