The present volume constitutes the first critical edition of the late antique Latin version of the Greek work On Fevers by Alexander of Tralles, one of the most eminent of the Byzantine physicians.

The book begins with a six-page preface. In this short introductory statement L. first reveals his aim to provide a useful tool for ‘the study of the transmission of Greek medicine to the Latin-speaking West in the first millennium of the present era’ (p. 14). He then expresses his gratitude to those who helped him to carry out his task with advice on the tradition, the editing and the language of the Latin Alexander from the beginnings of the project.

The preface is followed by remarks on general conventions and abbreviations of and references to all Latin texts, a complete bibliography containing modern scholarly works and a 32-page introduction providing a comprehensive critical presentation of Alexander's life and works. In the first part of the introduction L. focuses on the composite nature of the Latin Alexander in terms of the existence of linguistic variations within it. By means of an accurate philological and linguistic analysis he shows that the Latin Alexander is mainly a version of most of the Greek Alexander, of which some sections are omitted, and that excerpts are inserted from other sources, notably the Pseudo-Galenic material. The complex nature of the Latin Alexander is illustrated by the markedly divergent styles of translation as well as the variation in spelling and inflection throughout the text. In the second part L. offers an outline of the structure of De febribus singulis. He presents the chapters of the Latin book alongside T. Puschmann's Greek text (Alexander von Tralles: Originaltext und Übersetzung nebst einer einleitenden Abhandlung. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Medicin, 2 vols [1878–1879; repr. 1963]), indicating the huge omission from the Latin of the periodic fevers and the addition to the Latin of the remedies from Galen to Oribasius. The introduction ends with a list of manuscripts used in the present work, those omitted but consulted at certain points, and a brief description of conventions and principles of the edition.

Turning to the text and translation, L. has produced an accurate text with respect to emendations and conjectures. He uses standard classical orthography for Latin words and inflections in the interest of clarity and coherence. The apparatus criticus is abundant in recording orthographical and inflectional variants. The translation is carefully crafted and eminently readable, although the English terminology employed can seem occasionally over-technical. L.'s linguistic and philological expertise, close acquaintance with the Roman grammatical tradition and deep bibliographical knowledge make him an ideal person for the interpretation of this complex text, and the ample notes he has produced will be valuable for years to come. The notes contain remarks on various linguistic features and domains. Special attention is given to double translation of certain words, the discourse particles, phrasal terms and other collocations, case usage, the construction of independent clauses, the frequent division of a single Greek sentence into two or more parts, the deliberative use of rhetorical devices such as chiasmus, hyperbaton, rhetorical crescendo, rhetorical questions and direct speech. The seven indexes make it a user-friendly research tool. These indexes comprise (1) names and subjects referred to or discussed; (2) anatomy and physiology: body parts, substances, physiological processes, states, and associated words and phrases; (3) pathology: diseases and symptoms, and associated words and phrases; (4) therapeutics: methods of treatment, prepared medications, and associated words and phrases; (5) ingredients of medications, individual foodstuffs and quantities; (6) Latin words, phrases and constructions; (7) Greek words and phrases.

In such a learned and long-awaited work, there is little to criticise. The very density of thought in some discussions of passages will indubitably need attentive reading. But the presentation is as easy and straightforward as possible to understand. Throughout this competent and wonderfully clear book L. displays profound classical erudition as well as exhaustive knowledge of medical texts, literary sources and modern scholarship. The extraordinary quality and utility of this conscientious work place it in the front rank of contemporary scholarship in the field of ancient medicine.

L.'s book is a very solid, thoroughly researched, coherent and well-laid-out examination of De febribus singulis by Alexander of Tralles. It is also rich in fineness and precision and constitutes an excellent piece of scholarly work, which is highly recommended for its usefulness. It significantly raises the standards of classical scholarship by setting an inspiring and demanding example of careful philological study.