Marcus Aurelius in Love

by Marcus Aurelius, Marcus Cornelius Fronto, Amy Richlin (Introduction)

In 1815 a manuscript containing one of the long-lost treasures of antiquity was discovered—the letters of Marcus Cornelius Fronto, reputed to have been one of the greatest Roman orators. But this find disappointed many nineteenth-century readers, who had hoped for the letters to convey all of the political drama of Cicero’s. That the collection included passionate love letters between Fronto and the future emperor Marcus Aurelius was politely ignored—or concealed. And for almost two hundred years these letters have lain hidden in plain sight.

Marcus Aurelius in Love rescues these letters from obscurity and returns them to the public eye. The story of Marcus and Fronto began in 139 CE, when Fronto was selected to instruct Marcus in rhetoric. Marcus was eighteen then and by all appearances the pupil and teacher fell in love. Spanning the years in which the relationship flowered and died, these are the only love letters to survive from antiquity—homoerotic or otherwise. With a translation that reproduces the effusive, slangy style of the young prince and the rhetorical flourishes of his master, the letters between Marcus and Fronto will rightfully be reconsidered as key documents in the study of the history of sexuality and classics.

 

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Classics, History, LGBT

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 139

About the author

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise") was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the more important Stoic philosophers. His two decades as emperor were marked by near continual warfare. He was faced with a series of invasions from German tribes, and by conflicts with the Parthian Empire in the east. His reign also had to deal with an internal revolt in the east, led by Avidius Cassius.

Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having previously only read Meditations and given how stoic the Marcus Aurelius presents himself, this book was a bit of a shock. There is so much flirting and I have a feeling that if pretty boy Marcus at 18 would have known the thoughts cursing through my head, he would side eye me so hard I'd blush and have a giggle fit.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Shakespeare. Or, alternatively, "How Stoicism Saved Me: On Becoming the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome." I highly recommend reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations first, for context and a testimony to the value of the conscious pursuit of Wisdom. #howitstartedhowitsgoing

[Rat King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful prose from Marcus and Fronto, a pair that is clearly in love. As a fan of both Meditations and love letters in general, this book was a surprising treat.

[Nouvel Diamant]

This translation of letters between Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his mentor Fronto may be a linguistically brilliant translation and interesting with regard to possible relationships between the two.

However, the letters do not contain any further in-depth studies of the philosophical approaches of Marcus Aurelius or Fronto - I think that anyone who would be interested in this stoic thoughts can save themselves reading these letters.

Personally, I viewed "Fronto:Selected Letters by Caillan Davenport and Jennifer Manley" as the more interesting read and in comparison better put into context. The topics range there from legal cases Fronto is engaged in to family affairs, politics and wars.

[Tatyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Seems to me he’s like a hardworking farmer, gifted with supreme shrewdness, who’s covered a big farm with a crop of only wheat and grapevines, where, sure, the harvest is most flawless and the yield is most fruitful. And yet nowhere in that country place is there a Pompey fig or Arician greens or a Tarentine rose or a pleasant grove of trees or thick woods or a shady plane tree; everything is more for use than pleasure, and more what has to be praised but you don’t want to love."

[bella gaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. Filled with love and longing and yearning. Definitely strange to read such a young and flirtatious Marcus Aurelius - a shockingly stark contrast to the man of the Meditations. I’m immensely glad to have read this collection of letters.

[Greg Mcneilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

MARCUS AURELIUS IN LOVE: The Letters of Marcus And Fronto | Translated & edited by Amy Richlin, The Univesity of Chicago (2006) p168.

Marcus Aurelius in Love: The Letters of Marcus and Fronto" offers a fascinating glimpse into the personal life of one of history's most esteemed philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, through a collection of correspondence with his tutor and friend, Fronto. This edition, expertly edited and translated by Amy Richlin, provides a translation of these ancient texts and a comprehensive analysis that adds depth and context to the letters exchanged between these two Roman figures.

Amy Richlin's translation skillfully captures the nuances of the original Latin, making the letters accessible to a modern audience while preserving their historical and linguistic integrity. Richlin's ability to convey the emotional depth and intellectual exchange between Marcus Aurelius and Fronto is particularly noteworthy, as it highlights the human side of the Stoic emperor and his relationship with his mentor.

The letters are a treasure trove of emotion, philosophical reflection, and rhetorical finesse. They reveal a side of Marcus Aurelius that is seldom seen in his more famous work, "Meditations." Through these letters, readers witness the development of a deep and enduring friendship characterized by mutual respect, intellectual exchange, and genuine affection. The correspondence covers various topics, from personal health and family matters to philosophical discussions and literary critiques, offering a comprehensive picture of their relationship.

Readers might be shocked - as I was - to read of Aurelius complaining of an “anxious heart, shackled by worry.” Or when he is about to experience something he longed for - return to Italy - he is nearly goofy and describes his conduct as “giddy.”

Reviving this lesser-known collection of Aurelius’ writings helps round out the image of a genuinely human man of action wrestling to align his conduct with his stated moral objectives.

Moreover, Richlin's introduction and commentary throughout the book are invaluable for understanding the historical and cultural context of the Roman Empire during the 2nd century. She provides detailed backgrounds on both correspondents, shedding light on their personal lives, roles within Roman society, and the philosophical and rhetorical themes pervading their letters. This context enriches the reader's appreciation of the correspondence, offering insights into the period’s education, politics, and daily life.

In conclusion, this edition is a remarkable achievement that combines scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling. Amy Richlin has not only provided an accessible translation of these important historical documents but has also illuminated the complex relationship between two significant figures of the Roman Empire. Her contributions make "Marcus Aurelius in Love" an essential read for those interested in ancient history, philosophy, and the art of letter writing.

[Christopher Porzenheim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recall almost ten years ago, some recent acquaintance claiming with confidence that Marcus Aurelius was gay and that you could tell it in the letters between himself and Fronto. Putting aside the problem of using modern categories about sexuality to describe ancient historical figures with different cultural categories for their sexuality, I figured it would still be interested to read these letters. At the time I was interested in Stoicism, via Marcus Aurelius, and my interest has only grown since.

In truth, I got very little out of reading these letters that I was not already familiar with through biographies summarizing their contents. Sure, Marcus and Fronto are using passionately charged language, but it's impossible to tell if this sizzling style is just them playing rhetorical games, or not. And frankly, if you aren't interested in determining whether or not the passion is genuine or not, I don't really see why this text is worth reading. This did very little to change my thoughts on Marcus. The best feature of this collection of letters is that it is short, and readable in an afternoon.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely translation, she captured their different writing styles very well. I particularly enjoyed letters 17, 20, 23, 25, 30, 37 (although his grape opinions....wrong), 39 (<3), and the footnotes for 44. The introduction and the footnotes are extremely well written and make the book very accessible for the general reader, which I appreciated. I can't speak for any expert classicists, but I imagine it could be enjoyed by them also. Really great whether you want to learn about Roman sexuality or just read some letters from a "sentimental friendship".

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read but I have a hard time understanding some of the choices made by the translator. Several techniques are employed in an attempt to make the English text match the informal style of latin used by Marcus Aurelius and Marcus Fronto. Ancient Greek is translated into French, quotes by ancient playwrights are replaced by Shakespearean quotes and current (well, 2007) slang is used to match the feeling in the ancient letters. This all leads to somewhat unwieldy reading with excessive footnotes and a text from the second century that ironically feels dated to the early 2000s.

[Norma · Rating 1 out of 5]

La peor manera de presentar las prácticas de sí en la relación epistolar entre maestro y alumno. La proyección del autor es mas que evidente y carente de objetividad. Si alguna vez me he arrepentido de comprar un libro, este es...