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41st out of 344 books
—
439 voters
Selected Political Speeches
As the Roman Republic lurched to its close, amid corruption, ruthless power struggles and gross inequality, Cicero produced some of the most stirring and eloquent speeches ever written. Whether he is quashing the Cataline conspiracy, defending the poet Archias or railing against Mark Antony in the Philippics - the magnificent speeches in defence of liberty that cost him hi...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
December 8th 1977
by Penguin Classics
(first published 1969)
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We live in an age where we are sooner sickened than delighted by political oratory, but it must be borne in mind, while perusing these selections, that persuasion is a beautiful thing. And, indeed, Cicero aimed to please, considering that he literally aimed to find the mean between the Attic (laconic) and Asiatic (verbose) styles, which the ancients called respectively didactic and entertaining; the mean was considered pleasure - to learn and be thrilled. Included here are the Catilinarian Invec...more
The greatest orator of his day as well as an accomplished philosopher and historian, Cicero lived at the single most turbulent and dangerous period of Rome's history. He knew Pompey, Caesar, Cato, Brutus and Cassius.
A truly modern man - his ego easily flattered, desirous of material wealth and public success, but also strongly motivated by a need to do what was right and just - his political speeches are masterworks of propaganda, spin, inescapable reasoning and emotional appeals.
Reading about...more
A truly modern man - his ego easily flattered, desirous of material wealth and public success, but also strongly motivated by a need to do what was right and just - his political speeches are masterworks of propaganda, spin, inescapable reasoning and emotional appeals.
Reading about...more
Sep 06, 2009
rabbitprincess
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
discipulis historiae Romanae / students of Roman history
Shelves:
non-fiction,
pilfered
* * * 1/2
A solid collection of speeches from Marcus Tullius Cicero. Each one is accompanied by a detailed introduction that puts the speech into its historical context, which is very helpful for people who are not that familiar with Roman history. Footnotes are sprinkled throughout the speeches as well, providing clarification or explaining a play on meaning (for example, on the word "popularis" in the First Philippic, or the "penny" pun in the speech in defence of Caelius), explaining historica...more
A solid collection of speeches from Marcus Tullius Cicero. Each one is accompanied by a detailed introduction that puts the speech into its historical context, which is very helpful for people who are not that familiar with Roman history. Footnotes are sprinkled throughout the speeches as well, providing clarification or explaining a play on meaning (for example, on the word "popularis" in the First Philippic, or the "penny" pun in the speech in defence of Caelius), explaining historica...more
I hate to give Cicero a three star review, but this Penguin translation (Penguin is usually solid) absolutely murdered Cicero's prose. After reading about 145 pages, and realizing that something was missing, I decided to download a free eBook of Cicero's works, translated by C.D. Yonge, and the difference was so profound, I wonder how Penguin could have even let this be published.
Go for the 19th century translations, when people wrote with soul. Cicero won't translate right otherwise.
That being...more
Go for the 19th century translations, when people wrote with soul. Cicero won't translate right otherwise.
That being...more
As the Roman Republic lurched to its close, amid corruption, ruthless power struggles and gross inequality, Cicero produced some of the most stirring and eloquent speeches ever written. Whether he is quashing the Cataline conspiracy, defending the poet Archias or railing against Mark Antony in the Philippics - the magnificent speeches in defence of liberty that cost him his life - Cicero vividly evokes for us the cut and thrust of the Roman Assembly, Senate and court rooms. This excellent modern...more
Sep 23, 2010
Craig J.
added it
Cicero: Selected Political Speeches (Penguin Classics) by Marcus Tullius Cicero (1977)
As an orqtor, there were few better than Cicero.
SUPER. NEEDS TO READ OUT LOUD. BETTER IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ROMAN HIST.
Cicero was the master of political rhetoric. A titan of oratory, perhaps only equaled by his nemesis Julius Caesar.
Anyone wishing to capture a glimpse of the political environment of pre-imperial Rome, and/or learn how to fashion great speeches, this book is a great place to start.
Long live Cicero!
Anyone wishing to capture a glimpse of the political environment of pre-imperial Rome, and/or learn how to fashion great speeches, this book is a great place to start.
Long live Cicero!
Well worth working into your reading list.
Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! Oh, 300 more pages of this!
kinda like a cliffs notes 4 my poetry
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January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
A Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
More about Marcus Tullius Cicero...
A Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
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