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Complete Works of Cato the Elder
Revered statesman and soldier, Cato the Elder was the first important writer in Latin prose. His work ‘On Agriculture’ is famed for its direct, wise and grimly humorous style, providing a valuable insight of a contemporary farmer’s work, as well as interesting details of Roman domestic life. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Latin texts. This comprehensive eBook presents Cato’s complete extant works, with relevant illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)
* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Cato's life and works
* Features the complete extant work of Cato the Elder, in both English translation and the original Latin
* Concise introduction to ‘On Agriculture’
* Provides two translations: Fairfax Harrison and W. D. Hooper with H. B. Ash
* Includes the translation previously appearing in the Loeb Classical Library edition of Cato
* Excellent formatting of the texts
* Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables
* Provides a special dual English and Latin text, allowing readers to compare the sections paragraph by paragraph – ideal for students
* Features four bonus biographies, including Plutarch’s ‘Life of Cato’ – discover Cato's ancient world
* Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres
CONTENTS:
The Translations
ON AGRICULTURE
FAIRFAX HARRISON TRANSLATION
ASH AND HOOPER TRANSLATION
The Latin Text
CONTENTS OF THE LATIN TEXT
The Dual Text
DUAL LATIN AND ENGLISH TEXT
The Biographies
CATO THE ELDER by Plutarch
MARCUS PORCIUS CATO by Cornelius Nepos
CATO MAIOR DE SENECTUTE (On Old Age) by Cicero
MARCUS PORCIUS CATO
* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Cato's life and works
* Features the complete extant work of Cato the Elder, in both English translation and the original Latin
* Concise introduction to ‘On Agriculture’
* Provides two translations: Fairfax Harrison and W. D. Hooper with H. B. Ash
* Includes the translation previously appearing in the Loeb Classical Library edition of Cato
* Excellent formatting of the texts
* Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables
* Provides a special dual English and Latin text, allowing readers to compare the sections paragraph by paragraph – ideal for students
* Features four bonus biographies, including Plutarch’s ‘Life of Cato’ – discover Cato's ancient world
* Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres
CONTENTS:
The Translations
ON AGRICULTURE
FAIRFAX HARRISON TRANSLATION
ASH AND HOOPER TRANSLATION
The Latin Text
CONTENTS OF THE LATIN TEXT
The Dual Text
DUAL LATIN AND ENGLISH TEXT
The Biographies
CATO THE ELDER by Plutarch
MARCUS PORCIUS CATO by Cornelius Nepos
CATO MAIOR DE SENECTUTE (On Old Age) by Cicero
MARCUS PORCIUS CATO
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 150
34 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Porcius Cato
76 books36 followers234 BC – 149 BC
Marcus Porcius Cato, Roman statesman, surnamed the Censor (Censorius), the Wise (Sapiens), the Ancient (Priscus), or the Elder (Maior), to distinguish him from Cato the Younger (his great-grandson).
Not to be confused with Dionysius Cato (3rd/4th century A.D.), author of 'Cato's distichs'.
Marcus Porcius Cato, Roman statesman, surnamed the Censor (Censorius), the Wise (Sapiens), the Ancient (Priscus), or the Elder (Maior), to distinguish him from Cato the Younger (his great-grandson).
Not to be confused with Dionysius Cato (3rd/4th century A.D.), author of 'Cato's distichs'.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 9, 2025
With Cato the Elder’s only extant work De Agricultura and what other Romans have written about him, this is a good book to get to know Cato and how he was perceived.
A very practical, frugal and callous persona who abhorred Hellenistic influence and wanted Carthage to be destroyed completely, but cared for family life (and not so much for elderly or sick slaves who he advises to sell as they have no more use on the farm, and the main reason Plutarch dislikes him).
De Agricultura is a thrifty farmer’s instruction manual, with somewhat superstitious recipes and poultices. The great healer is (wild) cabbage. Amurca (the bitter dark watery sediment leftover from olive oil) is used on plenty of occasions.
Except for the slavery part, I got a hobbit vibe, but I guess it could also be used to recreate a Roman farm.
An example (which I haven’t tried so I can’t say it doesn’t work:):
«To prevent chafing: When you set out on a journey, keep a small branch of Pontic wormwood under the anus.»
A very practical, frugal and callous persona who abhorred Hellenistic influence and wanted Carthage to be destroyed completely, but cared for family life (and not so much for elderly or sick slaves who he advises to sell as they have no more use on the farm, and the main reason Plutarch dislikes him).
De Agricultura is a thrifty farmer’s instruction manual, with somewhat superstitious recipes and poultices. The great healer is (wild) cabbage. Amurca (the bitter dark watery sediment leftover from olive oil) is used on plenty of occasions.
Except for the slavery part, I got a hobbit vibe, but I guess it could also be used to recreate a Roman farm.
An example (which I haven’t tried so I can’t say it doesn’t work:):
«To prevent chafing: When you set out on a journey, keep a small branch of Pontic wormwood under the anus.»
Displaying 1 of 1 review