One of the great Christian scholars of antiquity and a high-ranking public official under Theoderic, King of the Ostrogoths, Cassiodorus compiled edicts, diplomatic letters, and legal documents while in office. The collection of his writings, the Variae, remains among the most important sources for the sixth century, the period during which late antiquity transitioned to the early middle ages.
Translated and selected by scholar M. Shane Bjornlie, The Selected Letters gathers the most interesting evidence from the Veriae for understanding the political culture, legal structure, intellectual and religious worldviews, and social evolution during the twilight of the late-Roman state. Bjornlie’s invaluable introduction discusses Cassiodorus’s work in civil, legal, and financial administration, revealing his interactions with emperors, kings, bishops, military commanders, private citizens, and even criminals. Section notes introduce each letter to contextualize its themes and connection with other letters, opening a window to Cassiodorus’s world.
M. Shane Bjornlie is Associate Professor of Roman and Late Antique History in the Department of History at Claremont McKenna College.
"M. Shane Bjornlie has curated a thoughtful and well-organized selection of Cassiodorus's letters, arranged by themes well chosen to illustrate the richness and variety of life and letters in sixth-century Italy. This book deserves a place in every undergraduate course on the fall of the Roman Empire and the world of late antiquity."—Scott G. Bruce, Professor of Medieval History, Fordham University
"Cassiodorus's letters stand out as the premier source for understanding Ostrogothic and Byzantine Italy, and Bjornlie has assembled a representative selection that illustrates the complicated political and social challenges Cassiodorus navigated as a member of the Ostrogothic regime. This is an essential collection for both students and general readers interested in understanding the complexity of sixth-century Italian life."—Edward J. Watts, Professor and Alkiviadis Vassiliadis Endowed Chair in Byzantine Greek History at the University of California, San Diego.
328 pp.5 x 7.75Illus: 3 maps
9780520297340$29.95|£25.00Paper
Sep 2020