Reading Genre in Sulpicius Severus’ Letters

This paper argues that we can understand Sulpicius’ series of three letters on Martin’s death as a kind of epistolary fiction conceived especially as a means of continuing the narrative begun in the earlier Life. The decision to delay this essential biographical component and cast it in letter-form demands explanation. This paper shows what the author gains by that decision: the opportunity to write model readers into the text as recipients of the letters. In this epistolary corpus, Sulpicius outlines a strategy for reading Martin (and his own text) faithfully. Those who set Martin in the context of exemplary Christian models will trust the veracity of Sulpicius’ account and thereby receive the attendant benefits, namely the holy man’s protection.