Cicero: Letters to Atticus, Vol. 3 of 3

In the aftermath of Caesar’s decisive triumph at Thapsus, Cicero retreats from the tumult of civil war and settles into a quieter rhythm of life, yet his mind never fully rests. Through a steady stream of letters to his longtime confidant Atticus, he reveals a man torn between the desire for peaceful retirement and the lingering unease of living under Caesar’s shadow. He balances diplomatic appeals on behalf of friends with a quietly growing suspicion of the new order, all while trying to preserve the dignity of his Republican ideals.

The correspondence also opens a window onto Cicero’s personal sorrows and his prolific literary output. Grief over his daughter’s death drives him to contemplate a memorial, while his pen produces a cascade of philosophical and rhetorical works—from consolatory essays to treatises on duty and the nature of the gods. These letters capture his humor, his negotiations with family, and his relentless quest to turn personal tragedy into intellectual achievement, offering listeners an intimate portrait of a statesman navigating loss, ambition, and the ever‑shifting politics of Rome.