A Dialogue Concerning Oratory, or the Causes of Corrupt Eloquence / The Works of Cornelius Tacitus, Volume 8 (of 8); With an Essay on His Life and Genius, Notes, Supplements

Name: A Dialogue Concerning Oratory, or the Causes of Corrupt Eloquence / The Works of Cornelius Tacitus, Volume 8 (of 8); With an Essay on His Life and Genius, Notes, Supplements
Author: Cornelius Tacitus

By Cornelius Tacitus

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About This Book

A multipart dialogue stages a debate about why public eloquence has declined, contrasting poetic leisure with the pressures of public pleading and weighing the merits of older and newer rhetorical fashions. Interlocutors offer examples and counterarguments to show how shifting political conditions, educational preferences, professional incentives, and the cultivation of patronage have reshaped speech toward artifice and self-preservation rather than open persuasion. The conversation examines taste, civic freedom, and institutional pressures, arguing that changes in social and political structures produce corresponding changes in rhetorical style and the aims of those who address the public.

About the Author

Cornelius Tacitus

Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman historian and senator, renowned for his critical and insightful analysis of the Roman Empire's history and governance. Active during the first century AD, he is best known for his works 'Germania' and 'Agricola', which provide valuable accounts of the Germanic tribes and the life of his father-in-law, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, respectively. Tacitus's writing is characterized by its brevity and depth, often reflecting on the moral and political issues of his time. His major historical works, including 'The Histories' and 'The Annals', explore the complexities of power, corruption, and the human condition, making him a pivotal figure in the study of Roman history.