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FANTHAM, Elaine, The Roman World of Cicero's De Oratore. Oxford University Press, 2006. 368p. Hard bound. 'This attractive book is 'largely the result of Elaine Fantham's years of offering the study of 'De Oratore' in graduate courses on Ciceronian rhetoric' (p.V). (...) F. aims at winning more interest in and sympathy for Cicero's 'De Oratore', 'a brilliant and beneficial work, and a marvelous key to Roman life and values in the late republic (p.V). (...) It may fairly be said: F.'s book yields profit to both groups, to the general reader as well as to Latinists so far unfamiliar with Cicero's first dialogue. F. steers clear of philological technicalities; most verbatim quotations are translated; Greek is transliterated (...). On the other hand, F.'s 13 chapters abound in prosopographical and historical detail (and her command of it is impressive). (...) It is just this wealth of detailed information which makes the book attractive and useful - and what might indeed turn reluctant classicists to reading 'De Oratore'. F.'s method (...): in the main, she does not comment on Cicero's text, providing instead an overall portrait of the political and intellectual atmosphere (...) She does so for two significant periods: the years around 91 B.C., the fictitious date of the dialogue, and around 56-55,when 'De Oratore' was conceived and written down. Notoriously, these years differ widely as to the political situation and, consequently, Cicero's mood and feelings. (...) Focussing on limited periods of time allows F. to be generous in exposing historical and literary particulars, and, amazingly, far from confusing the reader, the details soon generate a vivid all-round idea of these years (...). Last but not least, F.'s book is a pleasure to read. The style is lucid and elegant, liberally seasoned by a fine sense of humour.' (WOLDEMAR GÖRLER in The Classical Review (New Series), 2006, pp.95-97). € 182.50 (New) ISBN: 9780199263158