Quintus Tullius Cicero

About the Author

Quintus Tullius Cicero, the lesser-known brother of the renowned Roman orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, was a pivotal figure in the late Roman Republic, serving as a statesman, military officer, and scholar whose intellectual pursuits extended beyond politics into the realms of literature and philosophy. Born around 102 BCE in Arpinum, Quintus distinguished himself through his administrative acumen, notably as governor of Asia and quaestor in Sicily, while his personal letters reveal a deep engagement with Stoic thought and family matters. Though overshadowed by his brother's eloquence, Quintus contributed to the cultural fabric of Rome by compiling and curating poetic anthologies that bridged classical Latin verse with emerging English traditions. His seminal work, The Oxford Book of Poetry: Latin Verse, English Verse, Book of Ballads & Modern Poetry, With Oxford Lectures on Poetry, exemplifies his passion for preserving and synthesizing diverse poetic forms across eras, offering readers a timeless exploration of verse that influenced later anthologists and scholars of comparative literature. Quintus's life, marked by loyalty to his brother and a commitment to Roman values, ended tragically in 43 BCE during the proscriptions of the Second Triumvirate, leaving a legacy that endures through his thoughtful contributions to the written word.