Mr. Osgood does an excellent job of introducing us to the downfall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire in the personage of Marcus Tullius Cicero. Cicero symbolized Republican Rome during these last few years of the Republic filled with change, chaos and eventual perpetual Dictatorship under the Roman Emperors. This was very well done and well worth the time to read and think about.

Oh wow, I LOVED this book. It is absolutely fascinating and brilliantly written. I felt like I was sitting at one of Cicero’s cases hearing him speak. The Classicist in me just adored this and I am absolutely going to use it in the classroom. Best book I’ve read all year!