The Hand of Cicero
Published on 29. June 2005
176 pages
978-1-134-52973-5 (ISBN)
Description
Hundreds perished in Rome's Second Proscription, but one victim is remembered above all others. Cicero stands out, however, not only because of his fame, but also because his murder included a unique addition to the customary decapitation. For his corpse was deprived not only of its head, but also of its right hand. Plutarch tells us why Mark Antony wanted the hand that wrote the Philippics. But how did it come to pass that Rome's greatest orator could be so hated for the speeches he had written?
Charting a course through Cicero's celebrated career, Shane Butler examines two principal relationships between speech and writing in Roman oratory: the use of documentary evidence by orators and the 'publication' of both delivered and undelivered speeches. He presents this fascinating theory that the success of Rome's greatest orator depended as much on writing as speaking; he also argues against the conventional wisdom that Rome was an 'oral society', in which writing was rare and served only practical, secondary purposes.
Charting a course through Cicero's celebrated career, Shane Butler examines two principal relationships between speech and writing in Roman oratory: the use of documentary evidence by orators and the 'publication' of both delivered and undelivered speeches. He presents this fascinating theory that the success of Rome's greatest orator depended as much on writing as speaking; he also argues against the conventional wisdom that Rome was an 'oral society', in which writing was rare and served only practical, secondary purposes.
Reviews / Votes
'[An] engaging and readable book ... I thoroughly recommend this as a refreshing look at Cicero and his society.' - JACT ReviewMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
File size
2,42 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-134-52973-5 (9781134529735)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Authored by Butler, Shane
Content
Introduction; Chapter 1 The Young Cicero, Reading; Chapter 2 Cicero Takes a Bath; Chapter 3 Multitudo Litterarum; Chapter 4 The Trial of Verres; Chapter 5 Litterae Manent; Chapter 6 December 3, 63 BCE; Chapter 7 The Young Cicero, Reading;
