Isokrates: The Forensic Speeches (Nos. 16–21) 2 Hardback Volume Set

The Athenian educator Isokrates (436-338 BCE) began his career writing 'forensic' speeches, i.e. for delivery in court. Six survive, from cases including assault, fraud and inheritance. This is the first treatment of them as a group, analysed in the context of classical 'forensic' oratory (and Isokrates' later output).

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The Athenian Isokrates (436–338 BC) is well-known for his long career as an educator and pundit; but originally he wrote 'forensic' speeches, i.e. for delivery in court. Six of them survive (five from Athens, one from Aigina), on issues including assault, fraud and inheritance. Here for the first time, after a General Introduction, they are presented and analysed in depth as a self-contained group. The Greek text and a facing English translation - both new - are augmented by commentaries which juxtapose this material with other surviving writers in the genre (and with Isocrates' own later output). In the process, too, the speeches' historical background, personnel, legal context, rhetorical strategies and all other relevant topics are explored.