Shows general disragard by this conservative hack for the civil liberties of the accused. This guy ought to have his ears pinned back, at the least; preferably put on display so he would have to listen to his speeches. Readability is generally ok, although sentences ramble on occasion and are often unnecessarily lengthy. This may, however, merely reflect the customs of the times

Cicero's Latin speaches are very elegant and sophisticated.

No matter how you may be uncultivated, it is indispenpensable to read CICERONIS OPERA.
Even I, an ignorant Japanese, did read his works in original Latine.
Therefore, it's far much easier to read them for the English-speakers, because both English and Latin belong to the Indo-European languages.

This is a long-needed reprint of a work which is fundamental for understanding Cicero's __Pro Caelio__. That speech relies heavily on humor and comedy throughout, and Geffcken explains her subject clearly and concisely. This book is a cholarly work, but it opens the speech up marvelously: after reading Geffckken you are much more likely to realize just how delicious some of Cicero's comedic attacks are. I recommend it to absolutely anyone who might read Cicero's __Pro Caelio__, including high school students preparing for the AP examination.

Indespensible edition of one of the most important books of late antiquity. If you like this, don't miss his translations of Martianus Capella.

It has been said in the past by prominent Christians that a person familiar with Cicero's De Oficiis can be moral without having read the Bible. What a fitting statement for this book! De Oficiis shows you how to lead a moral life, as a father would tell his son (in fact, this work is a series of libelli written from Cicero to his own son). Particularly if you are in a position of power, or aspire to someday ascend to that status, this is a must-read. For a contrasting view, also read Nicollo Machiavelli's The Prince.

David Marsh captures perfectly the essence of the 15th century in the awe inspiring account of the lost dialogue--a favorite literary form of Plato, Cicero, and other classicle writers. The text is recommended to all readers, even those whose knowledge of Italian is less than superior. Marsh offers a systematic account of the revival of the dialogue in 15th century Italy. My congratulations on his excellent work.

In its last days, the Roman Republic was a wild and wooly place. Popular thugs like Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline) and Publius Clodius Pulcher saw in the shifting vacuums of power an opportunity to flout the law and win power and riches at the expense of their fellow countrymen. Standing squarely in their path was a Roman Senator, Marcus Tullius Cicero, who knew how to win men's minds with his powerful speeches and who had a fanatical dedication to maintaining the rule of law in the face of anarchy.

The art that Cicero practiced is not held in great repute today: We tend to distrust a man who can marshal cogent arguments and dazzling rhetoric in support of a cause. Consider, however, how remarkable it is that so many of Cicero's orations, letters, and other writings have survived today. Not only were his speeches eagerly read by his contemporaries, but early Christian monks saw in the great orator a basically moral, even if Pagan, writer whose work was worth saving in the scriptorium.

Among his own speeches, Cicero most highly rated his four blistering attacks on Catilina. My own personal favorite is "In Defence of Titus Annius Milo." In it, the wily orator shows he had a strong streak of Johnny Cochrane. The Tribune Publius Clodius Pulcher had been one of Cicero's most determined enemies and at one time had him banished for his advocacy of executing the leaders of Catiline's conspiracy. When Clodius is killed attempting to bushwhack a rival, Cicero jumped to defend the accused murderer.

In a letter, Cicero had bragged, "Let me tell you that it was I who produced the necessary darkness in the court to prevent your guilt from being visible to everyone." Where Cicero claims that Titus Annius Milo was attended at the time of the ambush with an "unwarlike retinue of maids and pages," he was actually accompanied by a large party of gladiators who were more than able to thwart the attack. While claiming that Milo had never threatened Clodius, Cicero wrote a letter to his lifelong correspondent Atticus stating the opposite, that Milo had openly threatened to kill Clodius.

Even when pulling the wool over his listeners' eyes, Cicero's political speeches in this volume provide a fascinating picture of a time and place which would otherwise be largely unknown to us.

First of all I foundt this translation to be clear and readable, something that I have come to expect from Michael Grant.
But the material is what baffles me. Cicero is considered the greatest Latin orator and writer, having a concise and interesting style. Personally, I find him to be very long-winded, and I realize this is due to a shortened attention span, but nonetheless, he could have made many of his points with two examples instead of ten.
I also find it ironic that Cicero paints himself to be the epitome of Republican Roman values, a man who stood completely for the decrepit and dying Roman Republic. Yet, he was a great friend of Pompey, a man who's goal it was to acquire dictatorial power, albeit within the confines of Republic. Yet he despises Caesar for aspiring to the same goal. Caesar was simply a better general, shrewder politician and a more charismatic man than Pompey, and he deserved to win.
So, I give 2 out of 2 stars for the translation, but 1 out 3 for the material. It is instructive if one is interested in the ancient world (which I am), but the average reader will no doubt find it dull.
Mildly reccommended.

Marcus Tullius Cicero is one of the most well known Romans and probably the one who has influenced the course of Western intellectual thought more than any other. Cicero was a lawyer, philosopher, statesman, and defender of Rome's republic. He was not a member of the Roman elite but fought his way into gaining their acceptance and respect by the power of his mind and by mastering the ever important art of rhetoric.

This particular compendium of Cicero's works is a good starting point to get to know the man Cicero. Included are two of Cicero's most famous philosophical treatises, "On Duties" and "On Old Age", selected letters of Cicero ranging on topics from his son's studies to his worries about Julius Caesar and Pompey, and his second Philippic against Marc Antony.

The weakest selection has to be the Philippic against Marc Antony. What we are introduced to here is the public, unpolished Cicero engaged in the fine art of mud slinging. This is not in and of itself a problem as I am a big fan of the political brawl; however, a rant such as this seems beneath a man of such great intellect as Cicero. What this tirade does show though is Cicero's genuine love of his country and its republican institutions. Cicero lived at a time when the Roman republic was being destroyed by ambitious men, like Caesar and Antony, who sought to make Rome their personal empires. It was over his struggle against these forces that Cicero eventually lost his life.

What really recommends this particular issue of Cicero's works is the translator, Michael Grant. Grant pens a tremendous introduction to these works that fully explains the difficulties of translating 2,000 year old Latin into modern English. It's Grant's introduction which really sets up these selections to be enjoyed as the work of art that they are.

Michael Grant has done it again with this wonderful translation of some of Cicero's finest work. Designed to give the reader an overview of this great master it shows you just how diverse a writer he really was, and why he cast such a shadow over European prose for the next thousand years.

Cicero's Phillipcs are packed with arrogance and lengthy praising of himself; this feature is extremely entertaining especially in Phillipic II. The argument against Antony is also of great historical interest in this book. The Loeb edition is extremely useful for students of Latin but also for the general reader. Its 'two-sided' approach (Latin/English Translation) is legendary and works extremely effectively. This edition also contains wonderfully helpful notes and appendices for true historical context.

I felt I had to buy the book since Cicero finally took a stand for the principles expressed in his philosophical works and Marcus Antonius killed him in one of the purges.

The works that comprise Michael Grant's rendition of Cicero's "On the Good Life" are: "The Tusculum Disputations (V)", "On Duties (II)," "On Friendship," On the Orator," and "The Dream of Scipio." These works expound upon the very essence of the highest good--namely the highest morality--and lay down a clear system of practical, applied ethics for the aspiring youth, statesman, orator, or sage. Cicero, furthermore, attempts to use these virtues to the direct benefit of the individual citizen and ultimately to the dignity of the Commonwealth. The sheer stateliness of these treatises will be enough to attract and excite scholars and, in a word, enlighten students seeking to grasp a general view of the works of one of the greatest philosophical popularizers in history, the immortal Marcus Tullius Cicero.

This review refers to the work, -Cicero: On the Good
Life-, translated and with introductions by Michael
Grant (Penguin Classics).
What is to like about this collection of sections
of essays by Cicero? I personally favor very much
the excellent introductions by Michael Grant, as well
as the excellent thought and expression by Cicero.
Be aware that this volume contains parts of whole
works. The parts themselves are complete, but if one
is looking for the whole work, then one should look
to the Harvard/Loeb editions of Cicero. Michael
Grant has piloted several Penguin Classics volumes
of Cicero parts, so one will have to purchase several
volumes in order to get the benefit of Mr. Grant's
insights and translations.
But those introductions, the main "Introduction" to
this volume itself, as well as the "introductions"
to each of the selections are excellent. Michael
Grant not only gives you the historical and cultural
context for Cicero himself, but he also in the main
"Introduction" (as he does in other volumes he
superintends) gives you the historical and cultural
influence which follows after Cicero, the influence
of his works on later generations. In this particular
volume, Mr. Grant says that he starts first with
"indicating how important [these works] still are
for us today." "For Cicero, through these treatises,
has been the greatest of all conservers and trans-
mitters of cultural values, the greatest unifying

force of Europe, the shaper of its civilized speech."
That is tall praise indeed. And, when he gets
to the historical influence itself, Mr. Grant is
no less emphatic. "One of the very strongest forces
contributing to the ideals of the Italian Renaissance,
and thus to the whole intellectual, scientific, and
social development of western Europe, was Cicero's
thought as interpreted by Petrarch (d. 1374)."
So, if you have ever scratched your head, and/or
your mind, and/or your soul, and wondered just
what DOES constitute the good, moral, worthy,
excellent life, then Cicero is an invaluable
companion to help you quest in search for an
answer to that most important of quandaries.

Although "On the Good Life" is a hodgepodge of Cicero's essays, there are a few reasons why this book is a must buy. First, these are Cicero's words, some of the best writing to come from ancient Rome. Second, the essays are a great introduction to Cicero's immense collection of essays, speeches, and letters. His literary productive output was vast. Finally, Michael Grant's translation and introduction is of the highest quality.

A lot can be said about the selection of the essays - why would Michael Grant pick a Book Five (Discussions at Tusculum) and a Book Two (On Duties) instead of a complete collection of each? Where's the rest of these works? Frankly, it didn't matter to me. Once I began reading "On the Good Life" I was hooked. This book converted me into a lifelong Cicero fan and Grant's translations (through Penguin Classics) are my primary sources for his works. I have five Cicero books from Penguin Classics so far.

My favorite essay was "On Friendship." I would recommend it to anyone. It is wise, philosophical, and applicable to everyone even today. The rest of the essays were also fantastic with the exception - my opinion only - of "On the Orator." That I could have done without. It was a little too long and way too dry. I wish Michael Grant had squeezed in some other essay of Cicero's.

There are more comprehensive translations of Cicero but "On the Good Life" is a wise choice as a Cicero starter. If you enjoy classic literature and you haven't read Cicero, start here.