This book is intended for the general reader; its aim is to give a representative impression of Cicero's career and character, of life in his day, and of the changing political scene. Selections from 146 of Cicero's Letters, belonging to the years 62-43 BC, in English translation are arranged chronologically with an introduction, notes, glossary of technical terms, index of proper names and two maps.

The late L.P. Wilkinson was Reader in Latin Literature and Fellow of King's College Cambridge. His works include Horace and his Lyric Poetry and The Georgics of Vergil, both reprinted in this series.