The ten speeches in this volume illustrate Cicero's entire career
and exemplify all the major contexts for his oratory: before the
senate, the people, and the courts. They illuminate the major
political crises of Cicero's time and offer portraits of many of
the major political figures. Several of these speeches also shed
light on the most important cultural and literary debates of the
late Republic. James Zetzel's general Introduction discusses
Cicero's public life; the social, political, and cultural contexts
of his speeches; and the challenges of translating them into modern
English. This edition also includes an introduction to each speech,
a section on Roman institutions and offices, a chronological table,
maps, a bibliography, and a biographical index.