Longus 
Daphnis and Chloe 
The 1896 Athenian Society Translation

Longus’ ‘Daphnis and Chloe’ is a masterpiece of ancient Greek literature, illustrating the beauty of pastoral life and the innocence of young love. Written in the 2nd century AD during the Roman Empire, the book is a prime example of the ancient Greek novel genre, known for its storytelling and romantic themes. Set in the idyllic countryside of ancient Greece, the novel follows the love story of the shepherd Daphnis and the shepherdess Chloe, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of young romance. Longus’ elegant prose and vivid descriptions bring the pastoral setting to life, capturing the essence of rural Greece. Through the story of Daphnis and Chloe, Longus explores themes of love, nature, and the simplicity of pastoral life, making the novel a timeless classic in the literary canon.

Giới thiệu về tác giả

Longus, a literary figure shrouded in the mists of antiquity, is traditionally known for his work ‘Daphnis and Chloe’, a seminal example of the ancient Greek novel genre. The paucity of information about Longus’ life presents a fertile ground for scholarly debate; nevertheless, he is often situated in the 2nd to 3rd century AD, with some sources suggesting a connection to the island of Lesbos given the pastoral nature of his narrative and geographic specificity within the text. ‘Daphnis and Chloe’, his only surviving work, represents a bucolic idyll that celebrates the simplicity and purity of love found amidst a pastoral landscape. The narrative, characterized by its sophisticated structure, intricate character development, and integration of pastoral motifs, has cemented Longus’ legacy in the literary canon. His eloquent prose and vivid storytelling influenced the development of the novel as a literary form and cast a long shadow over Western literature, finding resonance in later pastoral works and romantic fiction. Despite the challenges in ascertaining his biography, Longus’ singular contribution to literature in ‘Daphnis and Chloe’ reinforces his standing as a distinctive voice within the Greek literary tradition.