735 and 737. Life of Cicero vol 1 by Forsyth

735 and 737.  Life of Cicero, vol 1 and vol 2 by Forsyth. This was written in 1863.  It is dedicated to a British Lord.  So it is interesting to read it in terms of comments relating to British government and the United States and in terms of the period in which it was written.  It covers the life of Cicero using heavily Cicero’s letters and speeches.  This of course makes sense but he weaves what Cicero says into the biography in such a way that it is difficult to know when it is Cicero talking or it is Forsyth.  This is both a criticism and a compliment.  It is a criticism because it often does not allow an analysis by Forsyth of Cicero.  But it is pleasing to read because it unfolds in a way as a novel.

There are interesting tidbits about the location of Cicero’s houses and who ended up owning one of Cicero’s houses upon his death.  Although one must be careful because the location of his houses is doubtful.  But it is interesting to know by references made that Forsyth visited many places where Cicero lived.

He can not help to but to tout Christian values over those of pagan.  A grave sin in modern times, but no worse than prejudice I see in modern authors in other areas.

He does dwell far too much on corruption in the late Republic.  Modern scholarship has thrown interesting light on the subject.  And he does go too far, so far that one wonders how any decent person was ever elected.  Even he has trouble with the box he made for himself.

His analysis of speeches is kind of weak.  this makes sense when one realizes that he simply can not understand Roman politics except in light of the British system.  This adversely effects his ability to critique a situation.

Aside from this, it is worth while.  He sincerely wants to cover Cicero the man and the politician and in the process records a great deal of information.

Thoughts after reading vol 2.

There are times when the references to the superiority of Christianity over paganism becomes a little too much.  It sometimes seems to border on a willingness blindness to a full appreciation for what Cicero had to offer.

But the last chapter where he discusses the views of different scholars, such as Mommsen, Drumann and Middleton is very interesting.  I only wish he had written the rest of the book with as much keen observation.  His main point with critics is that thy failed to look at the whole person.  Instead these selected from Cicero what was suitable to their views.  This in my view is nothing new, it is still a common technique used today.  With Middleton it is different as he had nothing but praise for Cicero.  But it is interesting that Middleton evidently sought to hold up Cicero as an example to Christianity that someone besides a Christian could display high standards of morality.

signed,

The Obstinate Classicist