Submitted by Phil Brantingham, Jul 19, 2007 12:59

James Gardner's excellent review of the latest I Tatti volume "Ciceronian Controversies" touches on an old, old controversy, known in times past as the "ancients and the moderns" . This argument about models of prose style, is best known through Swift's "Tale of a Tub," which deals with the matter handily. The quarrel about styles seems antiquated today--who even knows what Ciceronian style means? Yet... as Mr. Gardner tells us, it relates more closely to the business of following tradition or the new.

For writers and thinkers, it's an important matter. However. . . my question is, who cares today? I'm delighted that the Sun cares enough to review this interesting and thought provoking book. Thanks.

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