Selected Works (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (Author), Michael Grant (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

Release date: September 30, 1960 | ISBN-10: 0140440992 | ISBN-13: 978-0140440997

Collecting the most incisive and influential writings of one of Rome's finest orators, Cicero's "Selected Works" is translated with an introduction by Michael Grant in "Penguin Classics". Lawyer, philosopher, statesman and defender of Rome's Republic, Cicero was a master of eloquence, and his pure literary and oratorical style and strict sense of morality have been a powerful influence on European literature and thought for over two thousand years in matters of politics, philosophy, and faith. This selection demonstrates the diversity of his writings, and includes letters to friends and statesmen on Roman life and politics; the vitriolic Second Philippic Against Antony; and his two most famous philosophical treatises, "On Duties" and "On Old Age" - a celebration of his own declining years. Written at a time of brutal political and social change, Cicero's lucid ethical writings formed the foundation of the Western liberal tradition in political and moral thought that continues to this day. This translation by Michael Grant conveys the elegance of Cicero's writings. His introduction describes their social and political background, while maps, genealogical charts, timelines and a glossary place the works in context. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), Roman orator and statesman, was born at Arpinium to a wealthy local family. Having been educated in Rome, by 70 BC he had established himself as a leading barrister and was beginning a successful political career. Cicero received honours usually reserved only for the Roman aristocracy and was one of the greatest Roman orators. If you enjoyed "Selected Works", you might like Suetonius' "The Twelve Caesars", also available in "Penguin Classics".

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), Roman orator and statesman, was born at Arpinum of a wealthy local family. He was taken to Rome for his education with the idea of a public career and by the year 70 he had established himself as the leading barrister in Rome. In the meantime his political career was well under way and he was elected praetor for the year 66. One of the most permanent features of his political life was his attachment to Pompeii. As a politician, his greatest failing was his consistent refusal to compromise; as a statesman his ideals were more honorable and unselfish than those of his contemporaries. Cicero was the greatest of the roman orators, posessing a wide range of technique and an excpetional command of the Latin tongue. He followed the common practice of publishing his speeches, but he also produced a large number of works on the theory and practice of rhetoric, on religion, and on moral and political philosophy. He played a leading part in the development of the Latin hexameter. Perhaps the most interesting of all his works is the collection fo 900 remarkably informative letters, published posthumously. These not only contain a first-hand account of social and political life in the upper classes at Rome, but also reflect the changing personal feelings of an emotional and sensitive man.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (September 30, 1960)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140440992
• ISBN-13: 978-0140440997
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods > Medieval
  • #20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Ancient & Classical Literature > Greek
  • #80 in Books > History > Ancient > Rome

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 85 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart That Beats Beneath the Statuary October 17, 2000

By James Paris

Format:Paperback

How many men and women who have lived more than 2,000 years ago have impressed us with their humanity? We tend to see the statuary, but rarely the person behind it. When you read this outstanding selection edited by the excellent classical historian Michael Grant, you see that Marcus Tullius Cicero has a human face -- and it shows in his work.

The Roman Republic that Cicero loved was falling apart. Marius and Sulla, the Gracchi, the conflicts over the powers of the tribunes had dealt a severe blow to a form of government that had proved itself adequate for governing a city-state, but less so for managing a multi-cultural empire. Cicero fought valiantly against corrupt governors like Verres ("Against Verres") and would-be dictators like Marc Antony ("2nd Phillipic Against Antony"). When he finally threw in his lot with Pompey, he picked the wrong horse and put himself in harm's way. Eventually, Augustus and Antony had him killed as an obstacle to their plans.

The wonderful letters that Cicero wrote to his friend Atticus and others such as Pompey show his hurt at having been rudely pushed aside. He saw himself as the Savior of Rome for his part in quashing the conspiracy of Catiline, but he lived in a world where "What have you done for me lately?" was the question of the day.

Increasingly, Cicero turned to farming and philosophizing. His essays "On Duty" and "On Old Age," reprinted here, are penetrating, humane, and even Christian in a way. One could see why monk copyists of the Middle Ages saw in the Roman senator a pre-Christian piety at work.

Michael Grant supplies an excellent introduction, maps, genealogical charts, timelines, and even a glossary to guide the reader through Cicero's work. This book is definitely a keeper.

82 of 88 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Grant + Cicero = pure greatness! February 26, 2000

By D. Roberts VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Michael Grant is one of the foremost scholars of classical civilization in the world. Being thus, he is an ideal candidate to translate the works of what was perhaps the greatest orator of all time.

This book contains some wonderful tirades which Cicero wrote - including his bitter (not to mention comical) attacks on Marc Antony (the same vehement and outspoken verbal assaults which led to his execution after the the banishment of Brutus and Cassius). It also contains Cicero's thoughts on topics such as old age and duty ethics (I wonder: how much Cicero did Kant read?). These are the writings of one of the most influential Romans from all time; a man who made his imprint on the history of the discourse of polemics. This is a fine book that contains the works of a gentleman who is sadly far under-read in this day & age.

55 of 61 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A note on the translation November 21, 2004

By Lao Tzu

Format:Paperback

I don't want to summarize the content here. I only want to talk about Michael Grant's translation.

Let's admit one fact: Grant's translation is not that good. I suggest you to check out Cicero's works published by OXFORD WORLD'S CLASSCIS: P.G.Walsh and D.H.Berry are more competent than Grant, and they are fascinating indeed. Grant often unnecessarily chops up a sentence, rendering it ends up with a whole lot of commas, and this utterly destroy the fluency and lucidity of Cicero. In my opinion, D.H.Berry (who published Cicero's DEFENCE SPEECHES) is thus far the best Ciceronian translator.

So why is it still worth 3 stars? It is mainly because of the contents, such as AGAINST VERRES, THE SECOND PHILIPIC, and ON OLD AGE, which are still not translated by OXFORD. Therefore, we have no choice but to stick with Grant's translation (unless you want to buy the expensive Loeb edition). If OXFORD will release more of Cicero's titles, I will definitely throw away Michael Grant's.