Cicero

Collins, W. Lucas (William Lucas), 1817-1887Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 302K words
Chapters: 31

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Cicero by W. Lucas CollinsAuthor: Collins, W. Lucas (William Lucas), 1817-1887,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Mar 1, 2004

Editor's review

This book is a biographical and critical study of Cicero written by the nineteenth-century English scholar William Lucas Collins. It belongs to the field of classical languages and literature and was released by Project Gutenberg as an English electronic edition. Its value lies not in offering new historical material, but in connecting Cicero's political career, oratorical achievements, and philosophical writings into a readable narrative through the eyes of a Victorian scholar. The language is relatively plain and does not pile up notes and terminology as modern academic monographs do. The account of the political context of the late Roman Republic helps readers understand the real circumstances behind Cicero's speeches and letters, making it suitable as an introductory guide to Cicero's world. It should be noted that the book carries the tastes and limitations of nineteenth-century biographical criticism; its selection and evaluation of historical material may not align with the problematics of contemporary classical scholarship, and readers should treat it as one interpretive guide rather than a definitive account. In terms of reading scenario, it is suitable for building a background framework before systematically reading Cicero's original works, and also for general readers interested in Roman history and classical rhetoric to browse at leisure.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory readers who want to understand Cicero's life and historical background before reading the originals
General history readers interested in late Roman Republican politics and oratorical culture
Students who need an English classical biographical study as extensive reading material
Readers who wish to approach classical scholarly writing in relatively plain language

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers who need the latest findings of contemporary classical scholarship and detailed textual criticism
Readers expecting to read direct translations of Cicero's speeches or philosophical works
Readers who prefer reading in Chinese and do not wish to deal with English texts

Reading tips

Read the main line of Cicero's life first, then return to compare the creation dates of his speeches and philosophical works.
Make a brief table of Roman offices and factional names as you go to clarify late Republican political relationships.
Treat it as a guide rather than a definitive account, and note the author's historical standpoint when reading evaluative passages.
Read it alongside modern translations of Cicero's original works to avoid remaining only with secondhand narrative.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book an original work by Cicero?

No. It is a biographical and critical study of Cicero written by William Lucas Collins, an introduction to and evaluation of Cicero's life and works by a later author, not a translation of Cicero's own writings. Readers who want to read the speeches or philosophical works themselves need to find the corresponding translations elsewhere.

Can I read it without a background in classics?

Yes. The book is aimed at general readers, its narrative is relatively plain, and it does not presuppose specialized terminology. However, it involves Roman offices, factions, and litigation background, so first-time readers may need a simple table of names and offices or an overview of Roman history for support.

What should I note when reading the electronic edition?

This book is an English electronic edition released by Project Gutenberg and is in the public domain. The layout is mainly plain text, with limited annotation and indexing functions. It is advisable to use reading software that supports bookmarks and search for easy reference back to names and events.

What can I gain from reading it?

Mainly a framework understanding of Cicero's political career and writing background, as well as a nineteenth-century scholar's perspective on evaluating this Roman orator. It does not replace reading the originals, nor does it provide the full picture of contemporary academic debate; it is suitable as a starting point for further reading.

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About the author

Collins, W. Lucas (William Lucas), 1817-1887 Author

William Lucas Collins (1817–1887) was an English author and clergyman who wrote introductory works on classical literature for general readers. Public information about his life is limited; what can be confirmed is chiefly his contribution of accessible guides to classical authors. Three of his works are held in this collection, dealing respectively with Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Cicero, and Aristophanes. These books belong to the nineteenth-century tradition of popular classical literature in the English-speaking world, presenting the content, characters, and historical background of the originals in clear, straightforward prose so that readers unfamiliar with Greek and Latin could understand the classics. His writing does not aim at abstruse scholarship but values clarity and readability, and thus played a part in family reading and school education of the period, offering later readers a window into how classical learning was popularized in the Victorian era.