Political Speeches
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Author Description
'two Things Alone I Long For: First, That When I Die I May Leave The Roman People Free...and Second, That Each Person's Fate May Reflect The Way He Has Behaved Towards His Country.' Cicero (106-43 Bc) Was The Greatest Orator Of The Ancient World And A Leading Politician Of The Closing Era Of The Roman Republic. This Book Presents Nine Speeches Which Reflect The Development, Variety, And Drama Of His Political Career,among Them Two Speeches From His Prosecution Of Verres, A Corrupt And Cruel Governor Of Sicily; Four Speeches Against The Conspirator Catiline; And The Second Philippic, The Famous Denunciation Of Mark Antony Which Cost Cicero His Life. Also Included Are On The Command Of Gnaeus Pompeius, In Which He Praises The Military Successes Of Pompey, And For Marcellus, A Panegyric In Praise Of The Dictator Julius Caesar. These New Translations Preserve Cicero's Rhetorical Brilliance And Achieve New Standards Of Accuracy. A General Introduction Outlines Cicero's Public Career, And Separate Introductions Explain The Political Significance Of Each Of The Speeches. Together With Its Companion Volume, Defence Speeches, This Edition Provides An Unparalleled Sampling Of Cicero's Oratorical Achievements.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection investigates the rhetorical strategies and political influence of Cicero, the preeminent orator of the late Roman Republic, through his most significant public addresses. The author, Marcus Tullius Cicero, provides a firsthand account of the political volatility, corruption, and power struggles defining the transition from Republic to Empire. By examining these speeches, the text illustrates how oratory functioned as both a tool for governance and a weapon of political survival in ancient Rome.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Nine primary political speeches including the prosecution of Verres and the Philippics against Mark Antony
- Contextual introductions for each speech detailing the historical circumstances and political stakes
- A general introduction outlining Cicero's public career and the broader Roman political landscape
Scope Limits
- This volume focuses exclusively on political oratory and does not include Cicero's philosophical treatises or private correspondence
- The analysis is limited to the specific historical period of the late Roman Republic
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians regard this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the intersection of rhetoric and power in the ancient world. Readers frequently note the clarity of the translations, which successfully maintain the intensity and formal structure of the original Latin oratory.
Page Count:
400
Publication Date:
2006-01-01
Publisher:
Oup Oxford
ISBN-10:
019151781X
ISBN-13:
9780191517815
Biography
History
Oratory
Roman History
