The Lost Republic offers a major, new interpretation of Cicero's dialogues On the Orator and On the Commonwealth. James Zetzel shows how Cicero shaped the two works as complementary explorations of the intellectual and moral underpinnings of civil society in the last years of the Roman Republic.

Table of Contents Preface Abbreviations Introduction: Mansuetiores Musae Part I: Orator 1. Genus Dialogorum Meorum 2. Cogitanti Mihi 3. Vetera Repetenti 4. Ratio Dicendi 5. Eloquentem Adhuc Neminem 6. Praepotens et Gloriosa Philosophia 7. Cycnea Vox Part II: Statesman 8. Prequel and Sequel 9. The Lost Republic 10. Dialogue and Dissatisfaction 11. Optimus Status Civitatis 12. Rerum Publicarum Natura 13. Iuris Consensus 14. I Never Died, Said He Conclusion: The Lost Republic Appendix: Speeches and Trials List of Works Cited Index

"Cicero's two 'Platonic' dialogues, De oratore and De re publica, represent the summa of his political and moral thought. Now they have found their ideal reader in James Zetzel, whose Lost Republic distills his decades of engagement with Cicero's writings. It is a brilliant work of immense learning, and a triumphant achievement." -- Robert A. Kaster, Princeton University "The knowledge of Cicero's Rome that has gone into this book is extraordinary, but what is exciting is the idea for it. Zetzel reads Cicero's first two dialogs as complementary experiments in which vividly imagined Roman aristocrats of the not too distant past try to reckon with political institutions that are crucial to their way of life but slipping out of their hands." -- Peter White, University of Chicago "A great book, and one that will quickly become essential reading for Classical scholars." -- Dr. Cliff Cunningham, Sun News Austin "The Lost Republic will be required reading for all students and scholars who are interested not only in the dialogues themselves, but also in Cicero's compositional techniques, the late Roman Republic, its oratory and politics, as well as the relationship of Greek learning (and particularly philosophy) with Roman intellectual life of the era." -- James M. May, Religious Studies Review "All readers will learn from Zetzel's insistence on probing the works with questions old and new... His book offers a signal contribution to our understanding of both these great Ciceronian dialogues." -- Bryn Mawr Classical Review "James Zetzel's wonderful study of the relationship of Cicero's De oratore and De re publica. The book is a highly insightful read for specialists in the field, but Zetzel's engaging style also makes it a very good guide for those who want to start exploring these two Ciceronian works and their literary and intellectual context." -- Anke Walter, Greece & Rome

James E. G. Zetzel is the Anthon Professor Emeritus of the Latin Language and Literature at Columbia University and the author of numerous publications, including, most recently, Critics, Compilers, and Commentators: An Introduction to Roman Philology, 200 BCE-800 CE.

Selling point: Presents a new approach to Cicero's dialogues and a new reading of these two texts in conversation with one another Selling point: Provides a new perspective on the place of Greek philosophy in Rome Selling point: Highlights the relationship between personal morality and civic responsibility and the nature of political leadership