On Government

by Marcus Tullius Cicero

Book Overview

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

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140445951
• ISBN13: 9780140445954
• Release Date: March 1994
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Rewarding Reading, Average Translation

I want to talk about the selection first and then the translation of this book, Cicero: On Government. First, the selection: the Verres oration, Brutus, and the Philippics are the three main reasons that why you should buy this book. "For Balbus" is only a selection (so don't be fooled!), and "For Murena" and "The Republic" and "The Laws" are available in Oxford World's Classics. (As a general rule, don't buy penguin if the same thing is also published by Oxford.) Second, the translation: Michael Grant's translation is only of average quality. (See my comment on "Cicero: Selected Works"). If you want to read excellent translation of Cicero's works, I'd strongly recommend "Cicero: Defence Speeches" translated by D.H. Berry, which included a better translated version of "For Murena". Finally, this book was first published in 1993, and "Cicero: Selected Works" in 1960. If you compare these two books, you can see moderate improvements in Michael Grant's translation. However, his translation in 1993 is barely OK, while his in 1960 is terrible. Unfortunately, the Verres oration, Brutus, and the Philippics are still not published by Oxford, so you are stuck with Grant's translation unless you want to buy the expensive Loeb Classic edition.

Superb, superb, superb!!!

This book truly shows the art of a great speaker and orator. Cicero is the best!. "On government" truly develops the mind. (The book is also handy if you want to expand your vocabulary.)

LOVER OF THE CLASSICS

Cicero is the greatest of latin writers. His knowledge is so wide. This book brings together many of his thoughts on government.This book makes it obvious how much he loved the republican form of government. Our founding fathers were widely read on Cicero's treatise's and rightly so. Excellent reading.