Ancient Narrative Fiction brings together thirteen original studies on fragmentary fictional narratives preserved on papyri – plus an Excursus – focusing on lesser-known and newly discovered texts. Seven chapters examine novelistic fragments and texts of potential novelistic relevance, while six chapters explore other forms of fictional prose. Most of the contributions originated from a panel at the 14th Celtic Conference in Classics (Coimbra, 2023), with additional invited essays broadening the scope. The book aims to present new research in literary papyrology, foster dialogue on the interpretation and significance of fictional papyrus texts, and promote their integration into broader discussions of Graeco-Roman literature and cultural history.
Contributors offer new editions and analyses addressing reconstruction, dating, provenance, and readership. They explore connections to Greek and Latin literary traditions, along with the rhetorical, ideological, and historical dimensions of these texts. Of particular importance are the implications for the genre, as these fragments challenge conventional definitions of the ancient novel and illuminate its connections to biography, historiography, and declamation. Together, the studies offer fresh perspectives on fictional narrative in antiquity.