The Politics and Poetics of Cicero's Brutus: The Invention of Literary History

Cicero's Brutus, written during a political crisis, is a powerful dialogue that explores the intellectual vibrancy of the Roman Republic and its Greco-Roman traditions. It offers a nuanced and sophisticated literary history, justifying Rome's oratorical traditions and laying the foundation for literary historiography.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Cicero's Brutus, a masterpiece of intellectual and political history, emerged amidst a turbulent political landscape. The defeat of the republican resistance at the Battle of Thapsus marked a pivotal moment in Roman history. This remarkable work of the dialogue genre captures the vibrant intellectual life of the Roman Republic and its rich Greco-Roman traditions. This book explores the work from various perspectives, including Cicero's account of oratorical history, his confrontation with Caesar, and the exploration of the art of historical writing. Through meticulous close readings, including discerning the contradictions and fabrications within the dialogue, the book reveals a crucial and highly productive moment in Greco-Roman thought. Cicero, argues the book, pioneered the first nuanced, sophisticated, and ultimately modern literary history. He not only provides a compelling justification for Rome's oratorical traditions but also lays the foundation for literary historiography that continues to influence scholars to this day. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

ISBN-13: 9781009281355
Edition number: Revised ed