Introducing Cicero: A Latin Reader (Latin Texts) [Paperback]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (Author), The Scottish Classics Group (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1853996378 | ISBN-13: 978-1853996375 | Publication Date: July 1, 2002

This anthology is designed to meet the needs of Latin students today, acknowledging present constraints on their study-time. It adopts the authors' approach of their "Ecce Romani" series. To enable students to read Latin reasonably quickly, generous assistance is given with vocabulary and explanatory notes placed next to the Latin text. The meaning of difficult sentences and phrases is usually explained by literal translation rather than complex grammatical explanation, though reference is frequently made to the authors' modern grammar book "The Latin Language". An 'overview' technique helps students unravel complex sentences. Extracts are drawn from Cicero's speeches, letters and philosophical writings, thus illustrating his mastery of styles. They are also chosen to provide an interesting contemporary view of a highly significant phase of Roman history, and linked by simple historical background notes. 'Points for Discussion' highlight sylistic features, showing how Cicero's thinking on moral and social issues remains relevant to modern times. List of Maps & Illustrations Notes for the Student Life of Marcus Tullius Cicero Overview Chapter Background Notes 1. Cicero s First Important Case Marius and Sulla 2. A Useful Lesson Cursus Honorum 3. Training for Oratory Cicero s First Office 4. Who Should Prosecute Verres? Selecting a Prosecutor 5. Theft from Segesta Cicero Attacked Verres 6. Verres the General Sicily and Segesta 7. The Brilliance of Pompey Pompey and Mithridattes 8. An Appeal for Support Cicero s Letters 9. Denunciation of Catiline The Catilinarian Conspiracy 10. A Letter to his Idol Cicero Triumphs over Catiline 11. A Letter from Exile Patricians and Plebeians 12. Eight Months in Exile Cicero and Clodius 13. Homecoming The First Triumvirate 14. Arrival in Cilicia Break-up of the Triumvirate 15. Cicero the General Caesar Defeats Pompey 16. Civil War Imminent Cicero s Personal Problems 17. Coolness towards Terentia Cicero the Philosopher 18. A Case of Fraud Predicting the Future 19. Is Prediction Useful? Antony and Octavian 20. The Case against Divination The Philippics 21. A Crown for the Taking Cicero Backs Octavian 22. Attack on a New Tyrant The Second Triumvirate 23. I m Doing All I Can Epilogue 24. Death of Cicero Appendix 1: Cicero and Oratory Appendix 2: Geographical Index Select Vocabulary

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Scottish Classics Group are authors of the Ecce Romani series including "Ecce Aeneas" and "Ecce Scriptores Romani."

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Duckworth Publishers (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853996378
• ISBN-13: 978-1853996375
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #531,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent textbook, October 10, 2007

By 

Albert Hand "student-teacher of alchemical arts" (northern CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Cicero: A Latin Reader (Latin Texts) (Paperback)

This book was used in the UC Berkeley Latin summer workshop, and serves as an excellent introduction to Cicero's corpus and the golden age of Latin style. The chapters are of manageable size for beginning students, are memorable and fun, and provide excellent drills in Latin grammar. It almost seems as though Cicero designed some of these texts for future students of Latin. The book also gives you a good sense of the powerful sentence craft and rhetorical moves that made Cicero famous. If you want a useful sampling of short passage in latin with helpful vocabulary and grammar aids (almost too helpful)... this book will serve nicely.