Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition from Ancient to Modern Times (Paperback)

~ George A. Kennedy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kennedy writes with ease and lucidity. His synoptic prowess melds the lives of the rhetoricians and the life of rhetoric.

Journal of Early Christian Studies

This edition is even more user-friendly than the first.

Religious Studies Review

In this most recent revival of rhetoric, George Kennedy himself has been indispensable.

Kathleen E. Welch, University of Oklahoma

[A] valuable tool for all scholars and students of the history of rhetoric.

Winifred Bryan Horner, coeditor of Rhetoric and Pedagogy: Its History, Philosophy, and Practice

Product Description

Since its original publication by UNC Press in 1980, this book has provided thousands of students with a concise introduction and guide to the history of the classical tradition in rhetoric, the ancient but ever vital art of persuasion.

Now, George Kennedy offers a thoroughly revised and updated edition of Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition. From its development in ancient Greece and Rome, through its continuation and adaptation in Europe and America through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, to its enduring significance in the twentieth century, he traces the theory and practice of classical rhetoric through history. At each stage of the way, he demonstrates how new societies modified classical rhetoric to fit their needs.

For this edition, Kennedy has updated the text and the bibliography to incorporate new scholarship; added sections relating to women orators and rhetoricians throughout history; and enlarged the discussion of rhetoric in America, Germany, and Spain. He has also included more information about historical and intellectual contexts to assist the reader in understanding the tradition of classical rhetoric.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press; 2 Rev Upd edition (February 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807847690
• ISBN-13: 978-0807847695
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,672 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for Classical Schools, September 26, 2005

By	Eileen Cunningham (Wichita, KS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Beyond "excellent" in content and detail, this book can be described as an "anthology of summaries and reviews" of classical writers from Homer to Umberto Eco. For those involved in the Classical Christian school movement, Kennedy's book helps to explain how Jewish scholars assigned authority differently from the Greeks and how both the Greek and Jewish traditions carried on into the Christian era. The book addresses both the content and artistry of classical rhetoric, is well-indexed and documented, and includes an excellent bibliography. Highly readable as well, this survey (in my opinion) should be in every library in a classical school.