This volume investigates the foundational principles of Roman oratorical theory and the practical application of persuasive speech in public life. Edited by A. S. Wilkins, this collection provides a critical examination of Cicero's seminal works on the art of rhetoric. The text serves as a primary source for understanding how the Roman elite utilized language to influence political outcomes and legal proceedings. By analyzing these treatises, the author establishes a framework for the ideal orator, emphasizing the necessity of broad intellectual training alongside technical skill.

Scholars and classicists regard this Oxford Classical Text as a standard reference for academic research into Ciceronian rhetoric. Readers frequently note the high level of linguistic precision and the rigorous editorial standards maintained throughout the volume.