A Short History of Greek Literature provides a concise yet comprehensive survey and analysis of Greek literature over twelve centuries; from its beginnings to Justinian. The book is divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to the extraordinary creativity of the archaic and classical age, when the major literary genres - epic, lyric, tragedy, comedy, history, oratory and philosophy - were invented and flourished. The second part covers the Hellenistic period, the High Empire and Late Antiquity, when literature was refined and influenced by the masters of the previous age to produce works replete of literary illusion. A Short History of Greek Literature presents a valuable and user-friendly introduction to the diversity and complexity of Greek literature, from Homer's epics to the first Christian writings.