ABSTRACT
In classics, as in the humanities in general,1 the most influential research is published in the form of books: for a really thoroughgoing investigation or reevaluation, a journal article rarely suffices. It is impossible to read all the classical books that are published in a given year; nor, were it possible, would it be advisable. Some have little value for anybody;2 even of those that are very important, most deal with subjects with which you are not currently involved. Book reviews serve at least three vital functions: they help their readers choose which books they should borrow or buy; they offer those who will never read the book a general idea of what it contains, information that may be useful for future research or teaching or simply as background knowledge; and they locate the book in the context of current research, indicating what is new about it, what is controversial and what other things might be worth reading.
