Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician

By: Anthony Everitt

Narrated by: John Curless

Length: 15 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's 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.

©2001 Anthony Everitt (P)2014 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Using Cicero’s letters to his good friend Atticus, among other sources, Everitt recreates the fascinating world of political intrigue, sexual decadence and civil unrest of Republican Rome… Everitt’s first book is a brilliant study that captures Cicero’s internal struggles and insecurities as well as his external political successes." ( Publishers Weekly)
"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)

Politics as usual

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

Enter Rome at the time of Cicero

This book guides us through Cicero’s life as if we were present. The narration is easy and enjoyable to listen to.

Absolutely brilliant.

Exquisite story telling and language. The time and the man comes to life, a must read for every lover of language and history.

Anthony Vieira

Compelling and Historical

I’m so glad I stumbled across this fantastic book!! Anthony Everett did a fantastic job telling Cicero’s biography and filling in gaps for those of us who are history lovers, but not scholars of the times we’re reading about. Really enjoyed it and the actual book is getting read again and will have a special place in my library. Time to read his book on Augustus!

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.

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.

Bringing history to life

Cicero (103 –43 B.C.) is well-known as a great Roman orator as well as a statesman, but this book paints a much broader and deeper picture of the man. Cicero was not born a patrician. His family was well off but his father was a farmer, mostly growing chickpeas (which is where his nickname “Cicero” comes from). Cicero was an avid student of the Greek philosophers and became a legal advocate (lawyer) where he made a good impression as he argued and won cases thought unwinnable. He was elected to the Senate at the age of 30 and later became a consul, a feat that was remarkable for someone of his status and especially when the most common road to the senate was through military prowess, which he avoided. He wrote down his speeches, many of which survive today. He carried on a long-term correspondence with Atticus as well as others. His letters were collected into at least 72 volumes, of which 37 survive today (almost 900 letters). Such a depth of writing, especially intensively personal letters, allows us to know much more of the man as a human being and the author skillfully introduces us to Cicero the man as well as the orator, advocate, philosopher, rhetorician, senator, and statesman. He lived at a crucial time in Roman history, as Julius Caesar attempted to turn the republic into a dictatorship, sidelining the Senate. Cicero opposed Julius and championed a return to a democratic republic. After Caesar was killed, he had to deal with the years of chaos that followed as various factions struggled against each other, with Cicero valiantly trying to restore the Republic. In the end, that struggle took his life and Cicero, who was never a brave man militarily, stood on his principles and when a soldier overtook his litter, he pulled open the curtains and said, “I am stopping here. Come here, soldier. There is nothing proper about what you are doing, but at least make sure you cut off my head properly.” Eventually Anthony was himself defeated by Octavius who took on the more famous name Augustus, the first emperor of Rome as an empire, and who was famously the emperor when Jesus was born. The author has written an excellent work, based on extensive research, but making it accessible and interesting to anyone. 

Enjoyed this

Brings to life the complexity of a man who had such a great influence on democracy the world over. Cicero’s immense reputation as an orator is tempered by details of his family life, his endearing relationship with his children, and his friendships and enemies. He was thoughtful but grumpy, stoic and yet sensitive. A very interesting person emerges. The narrator did an excellent job.

A fair enough telling of the story of the late republic, but some issues.

Interesting to see the story of the late republic from a perspective outside of the norm. Well written and well researched, though terms and ideas are frequently adapted to be more in line with their modern equivalents or are compared to modern equivalents/examples which I find very distasteful and lazy. The other notable issue are mis-pronunciations by the author, which risk changing the meanings (Catalina vs. Cataline).

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.