Orations

by Marcus Tullius Cicero, Dominic Berry (Translator), Tom Phillips (Illustrator)

In 80 BC an unknown advocate stood up before Rome’s criminal court to defend a son accused of murdering his father. Others had been reluctant to touch the case, for the accusers were powerful men, but through sheer eloquence, the 26-year-old Cicero prevailed. He became famous as Rome’s most outstanding lawyer, and later acceded to the consulship. His speeches are masterpieces: emotionally powerful, brilliantly constructed and often devastatingly funny. Cicero’s rhetorical questions, his use of repetition, emphasis and antithesis, his personal appeals to his listeners – all have been imitated, but rarely bettered.

Cicero was a novus homo: the first in his family to serve in the senate. He also lived through the fall of the Roman republic. The speeches selected for this volume offer a masterclass in declamation, a portrait of a self-made man and an insight into one of the most dramatic chapters in Rome’s history. "Against Verres" reveals the corruption endemic in Rome’s provinces. "Against Catiline" exposes an aristocratic conspiracy to overthrow the senate. In 43 BC, Cicero spoke out against Mark Antony, who had seized power after Caesar’s assassination. The Philippics itemize Antony’s many crimes, from sexual misconduct to murder, and are considered the greatest example of invective ever recorded: "Are you going to reply to me? Are you going to dare open your mouth at all? Are you going to find a single point from this very lengthy speech of mine that you feel confident enough to answer?"

This defiance was too much for Antony, and in November of the same year Cicero was executed, his head and right hand nailed to the rostra in the forum. But the great orator could not be silenced so easily. His cadences have been echoed by the most famous speakers of modern times, from Winston Churchill to Barack Obama. This edition uses the acclaimed 2006 translations by D. H. Berry, which preserve every possible nuance of Cicero’s language. Introducer Peter Stothard, editor of the Times Literary Supplement, shows how Cicero’s eloquence "is studied by many who do not even know that they are studying it." In a rare commission for Folio, Tom Phillips, RA, has incorporated the author’s original Latin words within a series of ingenious, innovative illustrations.

Bound in cloth.
Two inset labels.
Gold blocking designed by Tom Phillips.
Set in Ehrhardt.
Approx. 440 pages.
9 color illustrations.
Size: 11" × 6¾".

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics, History, Classics, Ancient History

440 pages, Hardcover

First published August 8, 2011

About the author

Born 3 January 106 BC, Arpinum, Italy
Died 7 December 43 BC (aged 63), Formia, Italy

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.

Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Marco Tullio Cicerone
Cicerone

Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot of about Roman history by reading this. It spurred me to read many Wikipedia entries. To read this book one must be wide awake and distraction free. It must be read slowly, and envisioning the words being spoken. Just reading the words does not convey the information without this methodology being employed. The most meaningful of the 8 speeches contained herein: "Oration for M.C. Marcellus."

[Andrew Bien]

I'm not sure if Goodreads lists the edition I have; it's Cicero's Orations translated by Yonge, but contains the Catilinarians, Philippics, and numerous others.

I've had this book many years, understanding Cicero to be a legendary thinker and stylist. Now that I'm diving into Roman history, particularly that of Cicero's time, and considering Cicero speaks at length about the events of his time, this seemed like the perfect pursuit for the moment. But I underestimated his capacity for speaking "at length", and misunderstood this tome of orations as representing him as a thinker. These are just political speeches, these aren't philosophical works. Some of them could even be called self-aggrandizing propaganda, others smear campaigns. Not to say they're totally vacant of deep thought, noble principles, or commendable style: Cicero is a powerhouse in his rhetorical skill, and he does seem to be a genuine servant of the republic. But all of that is sandwiched in long bouts of propaganda. In that way he embodies the Roman intellectual, as I understand it: skilled in political and practical matters, disinterested in lofty philosophy. Maybe the republic was too tumultuous for metaphysics; didn't Rome start hellenizing more and more during the Pax Romana? Coincidence? A period of peace WOULD turn a sophisticated civilization toward platonic ideals and such, would spring Virgil and replicas of Greek sculpture, etc etc. But my grasp of the history is pretty sketchy; suffice it to say that Cicero lived through a political rollercoaster, not just as a rider but as one of the main operators, and his orations reflect the frantic politicking that situation breeds, not the pure philosophizing I naively expected in any legendary thinker of the ancient world.

Nor did I perceive this much-ballyhooed elegant Latin style. Now, he's certainly articulate, and there's this huge caveat that I don't read Latin, so I'm subject to the translator on this one. But through this translation, the orations are an anti-lesson in the style extolled by modern English education. In fact, if this translation is any indication, Cicero should have some stylistic vices named in his honor, such as verbosity (cicerosity?) and the runniest of run-on sentences (I don't know, maybe just call them ciceronian). This is some of the most tedious language I've ever read. Like I said earlier, these orations seemed so timely for me, I should have devoured them; but alas, the great stylist put me off with his very style, as even the most pertinent of the orations (the Philippics, considering my fascination with Antony) was drawn-out beyond my endurance. Even when he tried to say something directly (Antony is wicked) as opposed to his usual circling of the argument, it took some syntactic study to get his meaning.

Thus I read each "argument" that prefaced an oration, and I read much of Cicero's own vocalizing, but I skipped more of it. For having sprung from, and symbolizing, a period of history so dense with intrigue, this is about the least densely-intriguing way you could have spoken about it. I'm genuinely interested in the drama of Catiline, Caesar, Antony, and others, yet couldn't endure Cicero's orating about the same, even though he was right at the heart of the action, with a sharp mind. It's the perfect setup, and the most diluted execution.

It's crazy that these things actually happened. What an exciting place to be, Rome as the republic draws its last breaths. Cato's suicide, then Caesar's murder, then Cicero's murder -- the power is oscillating so violently and so bluntly; the ideals crystallize in radical men (or at least that's how history portrays it); Cicero's orations, for all their verbosity and propaganda, are vigorous reflections of a vigorous time. But they're more valuable to the historian than the general intellectual.

[Stuart Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of Cicero's speeches, mostly during legal proceedings. Cicero is the master of bombastic hyperbole and self aggrandizement. Before each speech the editor writes a little explanation of the court case, which is good because often it is near impossible to tell what the case is about from Cicero's defense. He isn't overly interested in facts or evidence when on the defensive, but mostly he speaks about how grand and upstanding a citizen the defendant is, how Jupiter Himself shields His eyes from the glory that the accused exudes. Cicero dumps fawning praise on the presiding Judge and the prosecutor, and especially plays to the crowd of Senators present. Invariably, Cicero brings the whole thing around to talking about himself. The book starts with Cicero's indictment of Catiline and his conspiracy, and Cicero from then on continues to mention this conspiracy and how he rooted it out not unlike Al Bundy recalling the time he scored three touchdowns in one game in high school.

When Cicero is the prosecutor he reverses field. The defendant cannot be debased enough. Cicero insults him openly, brings up unrelated events which reflect poorly on the defendant, and showers the jury with facts and hearsay and comparisons to better persons. He does this with great vehemence against Veres for his pillaging of Sicily, naming him thief, pirate, and fat pig. He does the same to Mark Antony, calling him debauched and a drunkard. These speeches against Antony lead ultimately to Cicero's execution.

An interesting thing about these orations is the insight it gives to Roman jurisprudence. It looks less like a civilized courtroom and more like a the Mafia commission. The Romans are really into lawfare, attacking people through the courts on the flimsiest of evidence. A person who has become too popular, or one who was once popular but now has lost power, or just anyone who has a lot of money and looks like a good target may find themselves in court. And the courts can strip you of all property, or banish you, or even kill you. And it all seems to depend not so much on the facts but more on which lawyer gives the better speech. Also it depends on who brought armed thugs to the Senate, or who gave the best bribes, or who got a crowd of angry peasants to flood the Forum and demand a particular verdict. It was not unknown for Senators to travel about Rome with armed ruffians, to instigate a riot to affect a Senate vote, to even attack and sometimes kill other Senators. Bribery was commonplace, charges which could lead to banishment of even death were laid just because of personal animosity, and laws could change retroactively to make legal activities illegal.

All the while Cicero continues speaking about saving the Republic. He thanks Julius Caesar for returning the power to the Senate. He does the same to Mark Antony. And to Octavian. Even to the end and beyond he is fighting a losing battle to reclaim the Republic. But he does it with style.

[Beqa Abuladze · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a weird phase

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected to like this more, but couldn't help the impression that Cicero not only is a sleazy, opportunistic politician & lawyer, but that he is somewhat responsible for the sleaziness of lawyers and politicians, by codifying so eloquently such mode of rhetoric. Otherwise, it was an interesting and historical read of long oratorical flourishes and misogyny. And, as always, a beautiful Folio edition (winning it an extra star in my rating), even if a bit of a long read (the pages were A4 sized).

[Ray Almeida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to learn about Cicero and ancient history. It's a very high minded piece of literature that could be intimidating for someone with who might not be so adept at reading and comprehension. But otherwise, a great book to glean knowledge from.

[Jon Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the quintessential book, or any by Cicero, if you're looking to improve your writing or to speak more eloquently.