Name: Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens
Author: James Davidson
ISBN: 9780007373185

Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens

James Davidson

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Author Description

HarperCollins is proud to present a range of best-loved, essential classics. HarperCollins is proud to present a range of best-loved, essential classics. 'Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? '' Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? 'Set on the bleak moors of Yorkshire, Lockwood is forced to seek shelter at Wuthering Heights, the home of his new landlord, Heathcliff. The intense and wildly passionate Heathcliff tells the story of his life, his all-consuming love for Catherine Earnshaw and the doomed outcome of that relationship, leading to his revenge. Set on the bleak moors of Yorkshire, Lockwood is forced to seek shelter at Wuthering Heights, the home of his new landlord, Heathcliff. The intense and wildly passionate Heathcliff tells the story of his life, his all-consuming love for Catherine Earnshaw and the doomed outcome of that relationship, leading to his revenge. Poetic, complex and grand in its scope, Emily Brontë's masterpiece is considered one of the most unique gothic novels of its time. Poetic, complex and grand in its scope, Emily Brontë 's masterpiece is considered one of the most unique gothic novels of its time.

Menrva's Summary

THE THESIS

This work investigates the complex relationship between consumption, desire, and social identity in Classical Athens by analyzing the city's attitudes toward food, sex, and luxury. James Davidson, a scholar of ancient history, utilizes a wide array of primary sources—ranging from comedy and philosophy to legal oratory—to challenge traditional views of Athenian austerity. He argues that the Athenian obsession with pleasure was not merely a peripheral concern but a central pillar of their social and political life, revealing how the pursuit of consumption defined the boundaries of citizenship and status.

THE SCOPE MAP

What You Will Find

Analysis of the role of courtesans and prostitutes in the Athenian social hierarchy
Examination of the cultural significance of fish and other luxury food items in Athenian diet
Exploration of the intersection between sexual desire and political power
Use of primary source material from Attic comedy and philosophical dialogues to reconstruct daily life

THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE

This text is widely regarded as a rigorous and highly original contribution to the study of ancient Greek social history. The author's meticulous use of primary sources provides a dense, scholarly examination of Athenian culture that remains accessible to those interested in the complexities of the ancient world.

Page Count:
400

Publication Date:
2016-01-01

Publisher:
Fontana Press

ISBN-10:
000737318X

ISBN-13:
9780007373185

History