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Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 15 hrs and 52 mins
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Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician
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Summary
John Adams said of Cicero, "All ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher combined." Voltaire said of Cicero, "He taught us how to think." And yet Anthony Everitt’s authoritative yet accessible work is the first one-volume biography of the Roman statesman in over 25 years.
He squared off against Caesar and was friends with young Brutus. He advised the legendary Pompey on his somewhat botched transition from military hero to politician. He lambasted Mark Antony and was master of the smear campaign, as feared for his wit as he was for exposing his opponents’ sexual peccadilloes. Brilliant, voluble, cranky, a genius of political manipulation but also a true patriot and idealist, Cicero was Rome’s most feared politician, one of the greatest lawyers and statesmen of all times. Machiavelli, Queen Elizabeth, John Adams and Winston Churchill all studied his example. No man has loomed larger in the political history of mankind.
In this dynamic and engaging biography, Anthony Everitt plunges us into the fascinating, scandal-ridden world of ancient Rome in its most glorious heyday. Accessible to us through his legendary speeches but also through an unrivaled collection of unguarded letters to his close friend Atticus, Cicero comes to life here as a witty and cunning political operator.
Critic reviews
"Comprehensive, accessible survey of the personal and political life of lawyer, politician, philosopher, and crank Marcus Tullius Cicero… Masterfully lucid and compelling; sure to be required reading in the Cicero canon." ( Kirkus Reviews)
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What listeners say about Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- MR
- 14-05-17
A masterly weaving of the sources
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
15 hours would be too much for one sitting, but this is such a convincingly true to life recounting of what was always a gripping story that the listener is swept along by the urgency of the events and the power of the characters.
Any additional comments?
Very nicely read!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 06-10-15
Excellent viewpoint
I have read a number of biographies and accounts of the period of Rome from the 1st to the 2nd triumvirate.
Hearing it, quite often in the exact (well, ok, translated) words of Cicero gives a new vantage and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Author manages to sympathise with Cicero without making him flawless which adds a depth I sometimes find lacking in biographical works.
I got lost very occasionally in some of the names of minor figures but not to great detriment.
Narration excellent which is too often not the case in such works.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Simon
- 07-03-23
Very Good
I just finished this audio book in 2 days, it was gripping. The voice over and the story line was seamlessly integrated. I expected a lot from this and audio book and got back it in reams. Thank you.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Iver Øvergaard
- 01-08-20
Detailed and entertaining biography
A masterful depiction of an intriguing time through one of its greatest yet still human characters
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 05-04-23
Good biography, well read.
Book is a comprehensive look into Cicero’s life-although it’s as much a history of the late republic as it is of Cicero, and there aren’t as many direct quotations as you’d expect, although I’m sure lack of sources and translations explains this, and the provided context of the politics of his time is very necessary to understanding Cicero and his actions. Overall really good biography, narrator is good, doesn’t overdo it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- StevenCF
- 05-03-17
An excellent history
This is a clear and scholarly biography of Cicero, with a detailed background to the legal, political and military events. Mary Beard slagged it off in the London Review of Books, basically because the author relies on contemporaneous documents, confines himself to his subject and doesn't talk about what Cicero has meant to successive generations. That's probably the best endorsement a real scholar could ask for.
Buy this book if you want to learn about Cicero and his life and times. Don't buy it if you want someone to interpret the history of late republican Rome to suit current fashions.
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 05-01-24
awesome historical biopic
Cicero was quite the character, a great way to see the collapse of the old republic.
really interesting to see him humanised and get more insight in to his personal life.
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- jhlbeattie
- 20-12-20
Gratifying
So fresh so personal. this book has really improved my understanding of the Late Republic and poor old Cicero. I will be listening to all Mr Everitt's books.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mark H
- 04-11-17
Narration and Story Engaging
Thoroughly enjoyable. would recommend this modern telling of Cicero's life and times which provides an understanding of the age as well as Cicero's life.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 13-11-23
Interesting and well read
I found the audiobook interesting. It was easy to follow and very well read. I would have listened to Augustus, also read by John Curless, but it seems not to be available on audible.co.uk but only on audible.com.
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