Since its original publication by UNC Press in 1980, this book has
provided thousands of students with a concise introduction and
guide to the history of the classical tradition in rhetoric, the
ancient but ever vital art of persuasion.
Now, George Kennedy offers a thoroughly revised and updated edition
of
Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular
Tradition. From its development in ancient Greece and Rome,
through its continuation and adaptation in Europe and America
through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, to its enduring
significance in the twentieth century, he traces the theory and
practice of classical rhetoric through history. At each stage of
the way, he demonstrates how new societies modified classical
rhetoric to fit their needs.
For this edition, Kennedy has updated the text and the bibliography
to incorporate new scholarship; added sections relating to women
orators and rhetoricians throughout history; and enlarged the
discussion of rhetoric in America, Germany, and Spain. He has also
included more information about historical and intellectual
contexts to assist the reader in understanding the tradition of
classical rhetoric.