Plutarch: The Life of Cicero

Plutarch has always been one of the most popular Classical authors. Diversity and importance of theme, flexibility and richness of style, descriptive and narrative flair, intellectual breadth and penetration, moral seriousness allied to warmth and humanity these are some of the many sources of his appeal. His Life of Cicero is one of his greatest works. It is a valuable historical document, largely based on contemporary sources, and it preserves important information about events in 63 and 43 B.C.; it also gives a perceptive analysis of Cicero’s character and psychology and achieves tragic depth and grandeur. This new edition is addressed to a wide audience, from first-time readers to specialists. A full introduction explores the many different facets of Plutarch’s art. The translation maintains the word patterns of the original, thus bringing the Greekless reader closer than ever before to the essential qualities of Classical literature. The commentary combines historical documentation with literary and philosophical discussion.