
audiobook
ANCIENT
PREFACE
CHAPTER I RHETORIC AND POETIC
CHAPTER II THE RHETORIC OF ARISTOTLE
CHAPTER III RHETORIC IN THE DE ORATORE AND ORATOR OF CICERO
CHAPTER IV THE TEACHING OF RHETORIC
CHAPTER V THE LITERARY CRITICISM OF RHETORIC
CHAPTER VI THE POETIC OF ARISTOTLE
CHAPTER VII POETIC IN ANCIENT DRAMA AND NARRATIVE
CHAPTER VIII RHETORIC IN ANCIENT CRITICISM OF POETIC
In this thoughtful survey the author lets the great voices of antiquity speak for themselves, drawing on Aristotle’s foundational ideas, Cicero’s expansive practice, and Quintilian’s teaching methods. By threading together theory and concrete examples—from the epic sweep of Vergil’s Aeneid to the lively wit of New Comedy—the book sketches how ancient rhetoric shaped both poetry and public discourse. Listeners will discover how these timeless principles filtered through medieval scholarship and later fueled the Renaissance’s rediscovery of classical art.
The work moves beyond a dry dictionary of terms, offering fresh translations and clear explanations that reveal the technical craft behind ancient composition. It serves as both a reference and a step‑by‑step guide, helping modern writers, speakers, and students see how the old techniques can still sharpen persuasive writing today. As an audio experience, the narrative’s steady pace and rich excerpts make the distant world of Greek and Roman orators feel surprisingly immediate.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (408K characters)
Release date
2025-08-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1935
A longtime teacher of rhetoric and English, he helped generations of students think more clearly about style, composition, and the art of writing. His books brought literary criticism and classical rhetoric together in a way that still feels thoughtful and practical.
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