Cicero, Post Reditum Speeches: Introduction, Text, Translation, and Commentary

Cicero's exile in 58–57 BCE was followed by two speeches in the Senate and before the People to express his gratitude and establish himself as a respected senior statesmen. This volume offers the first-full scale commentary in English, including a revised Latin text and a fresh English translation, on these speeches, which have suffered from neglect in scholarship and doubts about their authenticity. It also includes the spurious speech, Pridie quam in exilium iret, that Cicero supposedly gave on the eve of his departure. This book will be an essential tool for Classicists and Ancient Historians interested in Cicero, exile literature, and the history of the Roman Republic and Roman oratory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 04 November 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Cicero's life reached a pivotal moment when he secured the consulship at the earliest opportunity in 63 BCE, followed by a successful confrontation against the Catilinarian Conspiracy. However, this triumph was short-lived, leading to a backlash that forced Cicero to withdraw from Rome in 58 to 57 BCE. Upon his return, Cicero delivered two speeches, one in the Senate and another before the People, to express his gratitude for his recall and re-establish himself as a respected senior statesman. This volume presents the first comprehensive commentary in English on these speeches, offering a revised Latin text and a fresh English translation. It explores the unique nature of these speeches, their place within the specific oratorical genre, and their significance as documents of Cicero's techniques as an orator and his self-presentation strategies. Additionally, the book includes the spurious speech, Pridie quam in exilium iret, believed to have been given by Cicero on the eve of his departure. By presenting all oratorical material related to Cicero's departure and return in a single volume, this book facilitates a direct comparison between genuine speeches and the later spurious speech, shedding light on the reception history of Cicero's works. It serves as an invaluable resource for Classicists, Ancient Historians, and scholars interested in Cicero, exile literature, and the history of the Roman Republic and Roman oratory.

Weight: 830g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198850755