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In 45 BCE, the Roman statesman Cicero fell to pieces when his beloved daughter, Tullia, died from complications of childbirth. But from the depths of despair, Cicero fought his way back. In an effort to cope with his loss, he wrote a consolation speech鈥攏ot for others, as had always been done, but for himself. And it worked. Cicero鈥檚 Consolation was something new in literature, equal parts philosophy and motivational speech. Drawing on the full range of Greek philosophy and Roman history, Cicero convinced himself that death and loss are part of life, and that if others have survived them, we can, too; resilience, endurance, and fortitude are the way forward.

Lost in antiquity, Cicero鈥檚 Consolation was recreated in the Renaissance from hints in Cicero鈥檚 other writings and the Greek and Latin consolatory tradition. The resulting masterpiece鈥攖ranslated here for the first time in 250 years鈥攊s infused throughout with Cicero鈥檚 thought and spirit.

Complete with the original Latin on facing pages and an inviting introduction, Michael Fontaine鈥檚 engaging translation makes this searching exploration of grief available to readers once again.

On consolation, grief, and coping, and heaven