{"product_id":"the-adages-of-erasmus-9780802077400","title":"The Adages of Erasmus","description":"\u003cp\u003eErasmus was fascinated by proverbs and prepared a collection of more than 4 000 of them  accompanying each with his comments  sometimes in a few lines and sometimes in full-scale essays. His massive compendium  characterized by his wit  his elegance  his bursts of satire alternating with serious views  was among the most learned and widely circulated of Renaissance books. This selection emphasizes Erasmus skill in explaining the proverbs  shows how he made his book  and demonstrates the way in which many of the proverbs moved into the English language. The text is illustrated with images by Brueghel and Drer and examples of proverb use from emblem books. Over eighty proverb essays are presented here. Some are masterpieces of social criticism (War is sweet to those who have never tried it)  others provide scholarly explanations of philosophical ideas or gestures and customs (Thumbs up). Many of the proverbs have passed into modern usage (Know thyself  To give someone the finger Well begun is half done)  some even retaining their Latin form (Deus ex machina). And a few  it turns out  were created by Erasmus himself through his occasional misinterpretation of the ancient languages (Pandoras box  To call a spade a spade). This edition replaces the pioneering work by Margaret Mann Phillips  providing more essays and more detailed source and background information for the texts. It is based on the translations and scholarship of the Collected Works of Erasmus - mostly that of Sir Roger Mynors but also the work of Phillips herself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45666340601909,"sku":"ByrdShop_0802077404","price":94.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780802077400.jpg?v=1782428830","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-adages-of-erasmus-9780802077400","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}