Greek and Latin Narratives about the Ancient Martyrs provides a collection, with facing-page translations, of Greek and Latin Christian martyr narratives dating from the first four centuries CE. While Herbert Musurillo's authoritative collection The Acts of the Martyrs (1972) aimed to gather the most 'authentic' and 'reliable' accounts of early Christian martyrdom, Éric Rebillard argues that modern scholarship instead calls for texts which attest to the contexts in which the memories of the martyrs were constructed. As such, this extensive volume provides a textual basis for the study of martyr narratives without making assumptions about their date of composition or their authenticity. It focuses on the ancient martyrs executed before 260, and examines which of their texts was known to Eusebius or to Augustine. Introductions describe the hagiographical dossier of each martyr with crucial information about the manuscript tradition of the different texts and provide a terminus ante quem for their composition based only on external evidence.

This collection provides a textual basis for the study of martyr narratives without making assumptions about their date of composition or their authenticity. It focuses on the ancient martyrs (those executed before 260) and for each martyr examines which text was known to Eusebius or to Augustine.

The narrative translations themselves are clear and exceptionally readable. I have taught the Martyrdom of Perpetua, Felicity, and their companions many times, and will use this translation from now on. The inclusion of multiple narratives for some of the martyrs provides an interesting opportunity for comparison and reflection. Rebillard's book provides sufficient scholarly apparatus for researchers, but is accessible to an educated lay audience. This is particularly true of the martyr narratives themselves. It is a pleasure to recommend Greek and Latin Narratives about the Ancient Martyrs for both audiences.