Product 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54321 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 390 pages

Customer Reviews

Prosecution speeches as public theatre
In 70 BCE Cicero prosecuted Verres, the Roman governor of Sicliy, for extortion and misconduct and won his case. The In Verrem, translated here, are his prosecution speeches. But if you're expecting something dry and dull, think again. Roman `courts' took place in the forum and were as much a form of public theatre as they were part of the judicial process.

Cicero exploits that mercilessly and here acts up to his audience giving us gossip, rumour and hearsay as well as evidence: of Verres' libidinous appetites for beautiful girls and handsome boys, of his stealing of sacred and religious objects; of his mis-management of the Roman fleets, and his execution of even Roman citizens.

The translation is sleek and flowing and there's a short introduction which give the context. For the Latin original, Loeb Cicero : The Verrine Orations I, as usual, is the best option, but for a good English translation this is useful. The volume also includes the four In Catilinam speeches, which are useful to read alongside Sallust's Catilinae coniuratio (Sallust (Loeb Classical Library).

Rome has become fashionable again through popular fiction, but if you want a taste of authenticity then Cicero's forensic speeches, however arrogant, pompous, repetitious and slightly bumbling they might be (in my opinion) are a good, and entertaining, place to start.