Cicero

Michael Grant

on-government

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Kate-Atkinson

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

On Living and Dying Well

In Defence of the Republic

Murder Trials

Selected Letters

An Attack on an Enemy of Freedom

On the Good Life

Selected Political Speeches

The Nature of the Gods

Selected Works

On Government

Discover the Penguin books that shaped us

These pioneering writings on the mechanics, tactics, and strategies of government were devised by the Roman Republic's most enlightened thinker.

'Cicero is by far Rome's most enlightening political thinker, and perhaps its greatest.' - Michael Grant in the introduction

An accomplished poet, philosopher, rhetorician, and humorist, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC- 43 BC) was also the greatest forensic orator Rome ever produced. To Cicero, service to the res publica (literally, "the public affair") was a Roman citizen's highest duty.  At age 26 (in 80 BC), he successfully defended a man prosecuted unjustly by a crony of the bloodthirsty dictator Sulla.  In 69 BC, he brought to order the corrupt Sicilian governor Verres. As consul in 63 BC, he put down the Catilinarian conspiracy; later, he was sent into exile for refusing to join the First Triumvirate.  Late in life, he led the Senate's gallant but unsuccessful battle against Antony, for which he paid with his life on 7 December 43 BC.

On Government

Format:

Buy the book from:

About Cicero

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter