
audiobook
In this timeless treatise the Roman educator lays out the principles of effective speech, turning from abstract theory to the concrete art of word choice. He explains how a speaker’s “habit” of expression—what the Greeks called ἕξις—shapes the power of a discourse, and he offers practical exercises for developing that skill. The work bridges the earlier discussions of style and invention with hands‑on guidance for aspiring orators, showing how to turn thought into compelling language. Listeners will discover the ancient foundations of rhetoric that still echo in modern communication.
This edition presents a meticulously revised Latin text, accompanied by introductory essays that set the historical scene and explain the manuscript tradition. Detailed critical notes illuminate difficult passages, while a facsimile of the Harleian manuscript lets the listener glimpse the original hand. The editor’s collaboration with leading scholars and his exhaustive collation of European codices ensure a reliable and insightful version. Whether you are a student of classics or simply curious about the craft of persuasion, the commentary and notes make the material approachable and engaging.
Language
la
Duration
~15 hours (866K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2007-06-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

35–96
A great teacher of public speaking in ancient Rome, this writer shaped how people have thought about education, persuasion, and clear expression for nearly two thousand years. His most famous work, the Institutio Oratoria, is valued not just as a guide to rhetoric but as a thoughtful portrait of how an ideal speaker should be formed from childhood onward.
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