New books recently published by members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s campus community include “My Shepherd, Though You Do Not Know Me” by Lucas Schulte and “Big House on the Prairie” by the staff of the University of Nebraska Press.
My Shepherd, Though You Do Not Know Me: The Persian Royal Propaganda Model in the Nehemiah Memoir, by Lucas Schulte, lecturer in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies (Peeters Publishers, 271 pages, 2016) — Schulte’s book discusses the editing history of the biblical book of Nehemiah through first examining ancient Persian-period inscriptions from Babylonia and Egypt. These inscriptions reveal a propaganda model in which Persian kings present themselves as supported by the local deities and as heirs to the local dynasties. Challenging a recent trend attributing religious references to later Hellenistic redactions, Schulte finds that references in the book of Nehemiah to divine authorization of the Persian king, Artaxerxes, akin to the royal propaganda model in Persian-period texts from Babylon and Egypt most likely date to the Persian-period Nehemiah Memoir due to a shared literary context.
Big House on the Prairie by the University of Nebraska Press (UNP, 96 pages, 2016) — In celebration of its 75th anniversary this year, the University of Nebraska Press has published this special edition featuring press highlights, profiles of key historical employees and lists of its 75 most significant books, 30 journals and 75 most noteworthy book covers. Rooted in the Great Plains, the University of Nebraska Press has established itself as the largest and most diversified publisher located between Chicago and California. It has published more than 4,000 books and more than 30 journals of influential and enduring value. What started as a one-person operation has grown into a press that has earned an international reputation for publishing works in Native studies, history, anthropology, American studies, sports, cultural criticism, fiction, fiction in translation, creative nonfiction and poetry. UNP’s partnership with the Jewish Publication Society has placed an emphasis on books in Jewish studies and Bible studies. The acquisition of Potomac Books has expanded UNP’s subject matter to include national and world affairs and more widespread coverage of military history.
This regular UNL Today column features information about the recent publications of UNL faculty, staff and students. For more information about each publication, click the link within the related book. The campus community can submit recent publication news to tfedderson@unl.edu or call 402-472-8515.
