Studies the first half of Sidonius' fifth book of letters from a philological, literary and historical perspective

Provides the first commentary on Book 5 of Apollinaris' Letters
Includes a newly edited Latin text and a new English translation
Contributes to an overall understanding of Sidonius' literary output as a whole
Offers a comprehensive and innovative study of key historical data, especially prosopography and dating of the letters

Sidonius stands at a crossroads between the last days of the Roman Empire in the Auvergne and Provence and the emergence of Burgundians and Visigoths as territorial powers. An aristocrat, politician, author and bishop, he was involved in and bore witness to this takeover. His literary prose is characterised by a floweriness which at times makes his letters ambiguous and ostentatiously obscure. This volume provides readers with a tool to understand this convoluted prose, enabling them to see the troubled political waters of the fifth century through the eyes of Sidonius.

The book contains a new critical edition of the first ten letters of Book 5 of Sidonius' Epistulae, together with an accessible English translation and a philological and historical commentary. It provides a general introduction to the book as a whole and a detailed exploration of the letters that covers literary themes, models, prosopography, dating problems and prose rhythm. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, it addresses historical questions relevant to the specific letters and to Sidonius' position at the centre of the Romano-Gallic aristocracy.