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Letters to Atticus vol. 1 of 3, Book 1-6
In letters to his dear friend Atticus, Cicero reveals himself as to no other of his correspondents except, perhaps, his brother. These letters, in this four-volume series, also provide a vivid picture of a momentous period in Roman history--years marked by the rise of Julius Caesar and the downfall of the Republic.
When the correspondence begins in November 68 BCE the 38-year-old Cicero is a notable figure in Rome: a brilliant lawyer and orator, who has achieved primacy at the Roman bar and a political career that would culminate in the Consulship in 63. Over the next twenty-four years--to November 44, a year before he was put to death by the forces of Octavian and Mark Antony--Cicero wrote frequently to his friend and confidant, sharing news and discussing affairs of business and state. It is to this corpus of over 400 letters that we owe most of our information about Cicero's literary activity. And taken as a whole the letters provide a first-hand account of social and political life in Rome.
When the correspondence begins in November 68 BCE the 38-year-old Cicero is a notable figure in Rome: a brilliant lawyer and orator, who has achieved primacy at the Roman bar and a political career that would culminate in the Consulship in 63. Over the next twenty-four years--to November 44, a year before he was put to death by the forces of Octavian and Mark Antony--Cicero wrote frequently to his friend and confidant, sharing news and discussing affairs of business and state. It is to this corpus of over 400 letters that we owe most of our information about Cicero's literary activity. And taken as a whole the letters provide a first-hand account of social and political life in Rome.
496 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1980
19 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Tullius Cicero
8,059 books1,969 followersBorn 3 January 106 BC, Arpinum, Italy
Died 7 December 43 BC (aged 63), Formia, Italy
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Marco Tullio Cicerone
Cicerone
Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.
Died 7 December 43 BC (aged 63), Formia, Italy
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Marco Tullio Cicerone
Cicerone
Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 30, 2025
An amazing read, though I wouldn’t recommend it for a first dip into the Romans. You need to have read something about the period. Appian’s Civil Wars did the job for me, but whatever you chose, chose something or you’ll be all at sea.
There’s lot’s of interesting and amusing stuff, from insights into the Roman publishing industry to Julius Caesar having his sacrifice interrupted by a transvestite.
There’s something very calming about the book. The early letters in particular. Just a man writing personal letters to his friend while at leisure. Then he gets exiled. Apparently it’s the worst thing that has happened to a man ever and he’s going to kill himself. Well, he did kill people without trial and I can think of a few worse things that could be done to a man. Being made to go on holiday to Greece would not be on that list.
Things like being exiled, or governing a province: these are things that you hear reported if you read Greek or Roman history. This book has eyewitness accounts of doing them, as also eyewitness accounts of the doings inside the Senate house.
The way this volume has been split is particularly well done as it reads something like an epistolary novel. Quiet beginning – disaster – success. There’s even a cliffhanger at the end.
Obviously this is a five star read. E. O. Winstedt’s translation is smooth and readable but there are a number of old fashioned features to it. Also, the notes are too sparse to be of much help. I realise these editions are more for people who also need the Latin text, but I note that Loeb has replaced these ones with a new translation. I’ve not seen the new one – I just took what my library had – but if you have a choice...
There’s lot’s of interesting and amusing stuff, from insights into the Roman publishing industry to Julius Caesar having his sacrifice interrupted by a transvestite.
There’s something very calming about the book. The early letters in particular. Just a man writing personal letters to his friend while at leisure. Then he gets exiled. Apparently it’s the worst thing that has happened to a man ever and he’s going to kill himself. Well, he did kill people without trial and I can think of a few worse things that could be done to a man. Being made to go on holiday to Greece would not be on that list.
Things like being exiled, or governing a province: these are things that you hear reported if you read Greek or Roman history. This book has eyewitness accounts of doing them, as also eyewitness accounts of the doings inside the Senate house.
The way this volume has been split is particularly well done as it reads something like an epistolary novel. Quiet beginning – disaster – success. There’s even a cliffhanger at the end.
Obviously this is a five star read. E. O. Winstedt’s translation is smooth and readable but there are a number of old fashioned features to it. Also, the notes are too sparse to be of much help. I realise these editions are more for people who also need the Latin text, but I note that Loeb has replaced these ones with a new translation. I’ve not seen the new one – I just took what my library had – but if you have a choice...
Want to read
August 7, 2010Bilingual edition preferred.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews