HOOKER, J.T., — Linear B. An Introduction.

Bristol Classical Press, London, 1994. Reprint 1st ed.1980.204p. Offset print. Paperback. Spine discoloured. ‘Hooker’s book is divided into three parts. The first begins with a short discussion of the Aegean Bronze Age and its writing systems (1-18), then passes to a consideration of first Alice Kober’s, then Michael Ventris’ step-by-step progress towards decipherment of Linear B (19-34). (…) Following this, H. Discusses the inscriptions themselves (script, types and classification of tablets (35-47) and the language (49-79) in a thorough and balanced way that will be useful to any student of Mycenaean. Part Two is devoted to the tablets themselves, with an attractive reproduction of the original syllabic signs on each plus a transliteration, followed by a learned but readable commentary after each tablet or group of tablets. The inscriptions are classified according to subject and place. (…) Each section of Parts I and II is accompanied by a copious bibliography to facilitate further research. Part three consists of indexes of (1) Linear B words, (2) Classical Greek Words, and (3) Linear B inscriptions discussed in the text. At the end of the book there are four pages of reproductions of Linear B inscriptions on clay and pottery. (…) Mr. Hooker has certainly produces an excellent handbook that will, one hopes, introduce a new generation of graduate students - and others - to Linear B and Mycenaean Greek.’ (JOHN-CHRISTIAN BILLIGMEIER in The American Journal of Philology, 1981, pp.347-349). From the library of the late Prof. Dr. Ludo De Lannoy.