This book examines short selections of fictional letters and excerpts from histories, epics and novels from the second and third centuries CE. An entertaining central study text for students of Greek epistolography.

The only major work of its kind on Greek epistolography, this book examines short selections of fictional letters, and excerpts from histories, epics and novels, from the second and third centuries CE; the so-called 'Golden Age' of prose epistolography. Arranged chronologically, with introductory sections for each time period, this book studies a wide range of writers, genres and literary levels, and analyzes love letters, philosophical letters, historical novels in letters, sketches of rural life, sketches of courtesan life, and comic letters among many more. Well-respected author Patricia A. Rosenmeyer has selected a highly entertaining selection, which include translation of previously inaccessible or untranslated works , and deftly opens up a neglected area of study to provide an enjoyable and central study text for students of Greek epistolography.

Introduction
1. Classical Greek Literary Letters
Introduction
Euripides
Herodotus
Thucydides
Xenophon
2. Hellenistic Literary Letters
Introduction
Antiphanes
The Greek Anthology
Anacreontea
3. Letters and Prose Fictions of the Second Sophistic
Introduction
Lucian
Phlegon of Tralleis
Chariton
Achilles Tatius
Apollonius King of Tyre
4. The Epistolary Novella
Introduction
Chion of Heraclea
The Letters of Themistocles
5. Pseudo-historical Letter Collections of the Second Sophistic
Introduction
Aeschines
Anacharsis
Apollonius of Tyana
Demosthenes
Diogenes
Hippocrates
Isocrates
Plato
Socrates and the Socratics
The Sages: Solon and Thales
Invented Correspondences, Imaginary Voices
Introduction
Aelian
Alciphron
Philostratus
Bibliography