The case for the prosecution in the Ciceronian era

Author: Alexander, Michael C.
Title: The case for the prosecution in the Ciceronian era
Place edition: Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Editor: University of Michigan Pr.
Year edition: 2002
Pages: XII, 370
Keywords: Droit - Diritto - Law, Éloquence - Eloquenza - Eloquence, Histoire - Storia - History
Review:

Dyck, A. R., "Bryn Mawr Classical Review", 2003.09.37.

Field, L., "New England classical journal", 31, 2 (2004), 173-174. . .

Hall, J., "Classical Review", NS 54, 1 (2004), 91-93.

Harries, J., "Journal of Roman Studies", 94 (2004), 237-238.

Fleury, P., "Phoenix", 59, 1-2 (2005), 185-187.

Platschek, J., "Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte", 122 (2005), 347-352.

Venturini C., "Gnomon", 78, 3 (2006), 267-269.

Description: [Publisher abstract] In The Case for the Prosecution in the Ciceronian Era, Michael C. Alexander offers a reconstruction of the case for the prosecution in eleven criminal trials held in the late Roman Republic. Scholars' previous understanding of these trials has been conditioned by the only extant primary source: the forensic speeches of Cicero. With the exception of one important trial, all these speeches are for the defense. In this study, Alexander analyzes Cicero's arguments to rebuild the lost side of the trials from the prosecution's point of view. Alexander's examination of each trial reveals the strong points of the prosecution's case, as well as the weaknesses on which Cicero's defense seized. Alexander brings to bear his expertise on Roman law as he considers a wide variety of factors--evidence collected by the prosecution, legal arguments, rhetorical skill of advocates on both sides, and participants' personal prestige--to understand why the prosecutors believed they would emerge victorious.
Works:
Author initials: Alexander 2002