Well written, well read portrait of a statesman

This is as solid a portrait of the great Roman statesman as you will find anywhere. And while the account is something of a whirlwind tour of an expansive life, Everitt does a good job maintaining focus through all the distractions of what was perhaps the most storied era in ancient history.

Cicero is one of the leading influences on western political and cultural thought. In fact, it’s through the numerous citations elsewhere in history that I had become familiar with his works — John Adams in particular heaped on the praise — and eventually my interest was piqued enough to visit the source directly.

What's most interesting about Cicero is that his works were less original creations than an articulation of the values and philosophies of his time. He had that knack of packaging up complex concepts into palatable, eloquent and timeless diction. So timeless, in fact, that their effects linger today in very direct ways.

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An eloquent man, and a patriot

Not as good as Everitt's biography of Augustus, but better than his biography of Hadrian. Everitt is clearly passionate and good at classical narratives. His biographies are quick, easy, and summarize the subjects well. He doesn't add much new to the history. He isn't challenging or overthrowing assumptions about Cicero or the other major players, but he weaves a nice story and makes Classical history approachable.

Everitt does a fine job of balancing the different aspects of Cicero. His skill as an orator, his hits and misses as a politician, his defense of the Republic, his rationality all get their time and moment. Everitt also blends in Cicero's weaknesses: his vanity, his missteps/vacillation in politics, his zeal in persecuting Mark Anthony, and his cowardice.

The weakness of this biography is while Everitt might be aiming at a form of mild historical rehabilitation, I'm not sure Cicero was ever really in need of rehabilitation. While he was often unlucky during his life (unlike Julius Caesar the birds never seemed to be on Cicero's side) after his 'good death' Cicero seems to have flourished.

The volume and quality of Cicero's writings that survived the fall of Rome have made Cicero into one of the hero/gods of the Roman Republic. His genius survives. Cicero will always be known more now for what he wrote and thought than for what he did. Caesar may have been deified by decree of the Roman Senate on 1 January 42 BC, but Cicero's own writings have made him immortal. He lives on in Machiavelli, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill. As Emperor Augustus observed to one of his grandsons upon seeing him reading a book by Cicero: "An eloquent man, my child, an eloquent man, and a patriot." Not a bad epitaph from the Caesar who had you killed.

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Great History of Cicero and the Time Period

I do not usually read biographies, simply because I prefer to read histories on a broader scale. However, I found that this book was a good way to learn about Roman history in the first century BC. This was a very interesting read. The narrator was a good fit. If you are looking to read about the transition of Rome from a nation ruled by a republic to an emperor ruled by the caesars, this is a good place to start.

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Cicero

A little too much context background for readers who've explored the republic before, but overall, very pleasurable. I would've like much details and commentary on his speeches.

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Great book

This is a Great book with a good narrator. It does a good job of covering both Cicero's life and the general history of the time.

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A perfect treat

Would you listen to Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician again? Why?

This book provides a comprehensive depiction of Cicero lives and times.

What did you like best about this story?

I have learned a lot from this book, not only from the facts that were presented, but also from the hints into Cicero character and motives, insights that went deeper than "he was the defender of republic and paid the price". A lesson to our modern republican statesmen all over the world: it is cool to be on the right side, but being right doesn't say you can skip being wise.

Have you listened to any of John Curless’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Superb reading indeed.

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Politics as usual

I enjoyed comparing today's America to Cicero's Rome. My final conclusion was American politicians have it far too easy!

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Excellent account perfectly read aloud

Cicero was a man who deserved a great biographer and an adept narrator and he got both in this audiobook.

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great book about a great man

if you are interested in politics, rhetoric, or 'just' the lives of great men, it does not get much better than Cicero. This book is a great modern biography of the man.

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If you like the Romans you will love this.

Very interesting and well told story. I would enjoyed it greatly and highly recommend to any fellow Roman enthusiast.

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