The works of Sidonius Apollinaris, poet, politician and bishop, have long been the subject of interest in historical and theological studies, as he documents the life of the Gallo-Roman aristocracy and church in a time of social and political upheaval. The literary qualities of Sidonius' letters, however, have only recently become the focus of research. This book places this aspect centre stage, considering Sidonius' rich intertextuality with other authors, especially Pliny the Younger.

This critical edition comprises a newly edited Latin text of the second book of Sidonius Apollinaris' Epistulae, a modern English translation and a literary, linguistic and historical commentary on the fourteen letters. The detailed commentary focuses on the literary Sidonius and his broad education and offers a narratological analysis of the text, highlighting its role as a book of leisure in the overarching collection of letters. The introduction focuses on the latest research on the second book of the Epistulae and shows how it is carefully anchored within the wider nine-book collection of letters.