Cicero: Selected Works

I knew little of Cicero beyond his basic biography going into this book. All of it was fascinating to me but his section on old age was what enticed me to write this review. Cicero does a dialogue between two young men and an older man (Cato) and ameliorates their fears on aging. I'm midway through lifes journey myself and I'm pondering this often as well. I'll be reading this again soon.

Cicero is one of my heroes. He was a master politician and a masterful writer. It would have been wonderful to hear him speak one of his orations. Few politicians today come within a country mile of putting thoughts into words as did Cicero. Perhaps one should say that few politicians today have thoughts as sophisticated and well organized as those of Cicero.

First, I think the selection is quite good and sheds a lot of light on the thoughts and life of Marcus Tullius Cicero. I particularly enjoyed the Second Phillipic against Antony and the correspondence. Duties III was also interesting. I found the remainder less interesting, but still quite thoughtful. Secondly, I think Cicero's ideas speak for themselves. As a US Citizen, I see our own great republic faltering, government tending towards autocracy, the rule of law undermined, etc. and these threats coming from both extremes of the policial spectrum. Cicero's ideas on governance are important today to help shape the political discourse and save our republic from the same fate as Rome's. His arguments on duty are as applicable today as they were in his time as well. Finally, I appreciated the Grant translation. While another reviewer has complained about the occasional choppiness to the translation, I think that Cicero's oratory-like prose (even in his essays) comes across well in this translation. It is tempting to remove phrases like "I must now return to my point" which make no sense in a literate medium, but this temptation leads to losing an essential aspect of Cicero's writings and I am glad that he does not do this.

Cicero's thoughts on old age which are but one selection included here are alone worth the price of this book. The wisdom of this man is clearly reflected here and in other selections that are included. These thought provoking essays and letters contain much that is still relevant. Along with Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, Cicero's writings are a window into the ancient world that helps us to understand how human nature and the problems of living a good life transcend the ages. These are books to return to again and again. The penguin paperback editions are an excellent resource for the general reader and belong on the shelf of anyone interested in philosophy ,history or living well.

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.

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.