Beyond Greek: The Beginnings of Latin Literature by Denis Feeney is a groundbreaking study that challenges the traditional narrative of how Latin literature came to exist. Feeney argues that the origins of Latin literature were far from inevitable and explores the factors that led to the emergence of a new literary tradition in ancient Rome. Drawing on a wealth of examples and insights from comparative literature, ancient history, and literary criticism, Feeney demonstrates how the Romans systematically adapted Greek forms of tragedy, comedy, and epic to create their own distinctive literature. This innovative book offers a fresh perspective on the birth of Latin literature and its impact on the development of Western literature as a whole.