The Life of Cicero: Lessons for Today from the Greatest Orator of the Roman Republic

Philip Kay-Bujak examines the life of Cicero, Rome's greatest orator and a key figure of the 1st century. Cicero was a leading statesman of the late Roman Republic who defended traditional Republican values against populist demagogues like Julius Caesar during a period of civil war and unrest. As consul in 63 BCE, he took decisive action to stop a plot against the Senate, ordering the execution of those involved. Though he survived Caesar, Cicero's opposition to Mark Antony resulted in his proscription and execution as an enemy of the state. Cicero's speeches, letters, and treatises on politics, law, oratory, and related subjects proved highly influential on Latin literature. When rediscovered during the Middle Ages, they became foundational to the Renaissance. Kay-Bujak argues that the era in which Cicero lived—marked by attacks on democracy from radical demagoguery—offers parallels and lessons relevant to contemporary times. Written in an accessible style, this account demonstrates Cicero's significance for modern readers.