Cicero on Oratory and Orators

Contains Cicero'sDe OratoreandBrutus,influential sources over the centuries for ideas on rhetoric and trainshy;ing for public leadership. TheDe Oratore,written in 55 B.C., argues that rhetoric is socially significant because states are established and mainshy;tained through the leadership of eloquent men. The three books of dialogues in this volume feature discussions between well-known figures in Roman history, inshy;cluding Lucius Crassus, Marcus Anshy;tonius, Quintus Lutatius Catulus, Quinshy;tus Marcius Scaevola, Caius Aurelius Cotta, Julius Caesar Strabo Vopicus, and Publius Sulpicus Rufus. TheBrutuscontinues the theme of the dialogues, giving a history of eminent orators whose performances exemplify the Ciceronian theory that rhetoric finalshy;ly adds up to leadership.

Ralph A. Micken is Emeritus Professor of Speech and former Chairman of the Department at Southern Illinois Univer­sity, Carbondale.