Chronology of Scholarship on Stylometrics (Appendix to Chapter 3)

1901 G Janell investigates occurrence of hiatus and divides Plato’s dialogues in 2 groups, Phaedrus is amongst ‘late’ group with low hiatus

1904 W Kaluscha’s work on rhythmic clausulae also finds two groups of dialogues

1920 L Billig divides Plato’s work in two with the dividing line through the Sophist

1950s G E L Owen relies on Billig to place Timaeus close to Republic and Phaedrus late

1958 Brandwood’s thesis (unpublished) tests all stylometric studies so far and finds flaws in them all

1970 Wishart and Leach’s study of Plato’s prose rhythm in 10 of his works finds Phaedrus the earliest

1976 Brandwood’s Index to Plato

1982 Thesleff’s review of stylometry and other scholars all accept the view that Brandwood’s findings supported Owen’s thesis

1989 G R Ledger’s Re-counting Plato, uses 3 groups of variables to analyse texts and reaffirms division of dialogues into 2 groups

1990 Brandwood’s thesis published, criticism of Billig’s findings omitted

1992 T M Robinson’s paper on the relative dating of Timaeus and Phaedrus attempts to discredit Wishart and Leach