Dr Sebastian Matzner’s book Rethinking Metonymy: Literary Theory and Poetic Practice from Pindar to Jakobson has been published by Oxford University Press as the latest addition to the new Classics in Theory series.

Rethinking Metonymy offers a ground-breaking new study of metonymy as a poetic device. The book contains a rigorous analysis of extensive examples from a wide range of literary sources, including classical Greek tragic and lyric poetry as well as classicizing and Romantic German poetry. In order to develop a new theory of metonymy on the empirical basis of concrete metonyms in poetic action, the book relates classical perspectives and concepts from ancient rhetoric and poetics to modern linguistic and literary theory, especially structuralism. Rethinking Metonymy thereby fills an important gap in literary analytical scholarship but also tackles problems of stylistic analysis, structuralist interpretation, and translation criticism that confront scholars not only of literary theory but across the humanities

The book is based on Matzner’s PhD thesis (Classics and Comparative Literature, King's 2012) which won the University of Heidelberg’s Prize for Classical Philology and Literary Theory. The chair of the prize awarding jury, Professor Jürgen-Paul Schwindt comments “The particular attractiveness of this work lies in the comparative evaluation of ancient and modern poetic texts. The discussion of the consequences which this reassessment of a ‘forgotten trope’ has for the theory and practice of literary translation adds further to the value of the study.”

To celebrate the launch of Dr Matzner’s book, the Departments of Classics and Comparative Literature at King's College London will hold a joint research seminar on 25^th January 2017, 4:30pm, Virginia Woolf Building, Room 6.01. 

The event will feature a brief introduction to the book by the author, reflections on the its questions, findings, and achievements by Professor Michael Silk (Professor Emeritus of Classical and Comparative Literature, King's College London, FKC, FBA), and comments on the book's place within the new Classics in Theory series by the series' editor Professor Tim Whitmarsh (A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, University of Cambridge).

The presentation and discussion of the book will be followed by a drinks reception and there will also be an opportunity to purchase copies of the book at a 40% reduced book launch price.

For planning purposes, please register through Eventbrite here (free of charge).

We look forward to welcoming you at King's for this event!