How did Marcus Tullius Cicero utilize historical exempla to navigate the complex social and political hierarchies of the late Roman Republic? Henriette van der Blom, a specialist in Roman history, examines Cicero's strategic self-fashioning as a 'novus homo' or newcomer. By analyzing his speeches, letters, and philosophical treatises, the author argues that Cicero consciously adopted specific historical figures as behavioral templates to legitimize his authority and subsequently positioned himself as a model for future generations of Roman leaders.

Scholars recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of Roman political culture and the mechanics of elite self-promotion. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for students and researchers of classical antiquity.