BOOK 1 OF THE NATURAL HISTORY BY PLINY THE ELDER, TEXT OR PARATEXT?

Book I of Historia Naturalis, by Pliny the Elder, has traditionally been regarded, following the author's own words in his dedicatory letter to Titus, as a paratextual resource helping the reader locate subjects in this extensive work. However, a close analysis of the elements in book I -tables of contents, summae of data and lists of authors-and of the importance of the triumphal parade in its architecture reveals that this book is autonomous from the main body of the work. Furthermore, taking into account Pliny's propagandistic purposes and his intention to reach the average reader, book I may function in some cases as a possible substitute for the entire work and become a text in its own right, with its own public and its own means of transmission. All this seems to be pointing to the author's taking advantage of all reading possibilities existing in Rome.