The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity

“This thick volume collects what readers would otherwise have to cull or create from several sources…Heffernan’s study is easily recommended for libraries and for graduate students of early Christianity and hagiography.”–Journal of Late Antiquity

“A felicitous translation, and a very detailed commentary on historical, prosopographical, theological, and philosophical issues.” —Common Knowledge

“An elaborate, full-scale edition with translation, commentary, and supplementary material…For the first time, the [Passion of Perpetua and Felicity] has truly been made accessible for an international, English readership. Heffernan’s impressive book is the fruit of many years of study and work. It covers nearly all basic material about the text one might wish, and conveniently bundles all relevant philological and textual information in one volume. The result is no less than breathtaking: this is a truly amazing achievement, which can make any classicist or historian feel proud of our field of studies…This edition of The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity will undoubtedly be the standard tool for Perpetua scholars in the foreseeable future. It is a splendid achievement, which will greatly serve both the scholarly community and a larger readership. Professor Heffernan has earned deep gratitude and admiration of all those working in the field of Classics.” —Histos

“Heffernan’s edition, translation, and commentary of The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity will be considered the definitive work on the subject. It is a delight to the scholar, teacher, and student of late Latin or early Christianity.”–Sarah Klitenic Wear, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

“A meticulous line-by-line commentary” —Times Literary Supplement

“The result is no less than breathtaking: this is a truly amazing achievement, which can make any classicist or historian feel proud of our field of studies.” —Histos

“Heffernan’s comprehensive and critical treatment of the Passion of Perpetua and Felicity offers specialists and other students of early Christianity the most thorough exposition to date of the Passion’s textual, rhetorical, textual, and interpretive complexity. We all owe Thomas Heffernan a debt for lending his scholarly precision and intellectual generosity to this task. Heffernan’s text, translation, and commentary will most certainly be the standard edition of this text on which scholars and students will rely in future generations.”
–Elizabeth Castelli, Professor and Chair of the Religion Department, Barnard College

“This edition, translation, and comprehensive commentary will remain the definitive resource for scholars who study this influential text. Furthermore, Heffernan’s elegant translation perfectly captures the voice of this early Christian woman, whose diary has captivated readers for almost 2000 years.”
–Joyce E. Salisbury, author of Perpetua’s Passion: Death and Memory of a Young Roman Woman

“At last here is a detailed edition and commentary that provides a close and much-needed analysis of the ancient texts in which this remarkable narrative is preserved. Heffernan’s careful discussion of the historical context of Perpetua’s martyrology shows how a woman of Perpetua’s social class was able to write such a vivid account of her own experiences; it also explains how and why her story was preserved, and became an inspiration to Christians throughout the ancient world.”
–Mary Lefkowitz, Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities emerita, Wellesley College

“This new, comprehensive work will enable the scholar and general reader to gain genuine insight, contextual and literary understanding, and appreciation of the work. The book provides a number of firsts… The result is a model work on contextualization of an ancient manuscript. TJH has set a standard for all to emulate and produced a monumental and painstakingly high-level work.” —Religious Studies Review

Thomas J. Heffernan is the Kenneth Curry Professor of the Humanities at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.