The latest Oxford Classical Text is a new edition of a fascinating first century work, using the latest research to illuminate what has become known as a patchy and difficult manuscript. The “Res Rustica” was one of the leading didactic works of its time, offering farmers practical advice on how best to care for their crops and livestock while still making a return on their investment. Columella was cited by Pliny the Elder for his sound scientific reasoning and will be appreciated by today’s reader for his pioneering insights on human stewardship of the natural world.
