Readings in the History of Rhetoric

The art of rhetoric remains one of the most valuable skills to possess in a healthy democracy….

Readings in the History of Rhetoric fills a large void in the rhetoric market by assembling a worthy collection of central essays and key primary texts that shaped rhetorical history over the past 3,000 years.  Readings in the History of Rhetoric provides students access to primary texts from each era that propelled the rhetoric field forward, invited responses, critiques, invectives, and epideictics from others.

By utilizing a decidedly oratory-friendly approach to the history of rhetoric, as opposed to the literary approach adopted by several texts on the market today, Readings in the History of Rhetoric addresses needs of instructors with a background in rhetoric and public address.

Readings in the History of Rhetoric is divided into five sections:

• Section One considers the ancient Greeks
• Section Two presents readings from ancient Roman rhetoricians
• Section Three offers readers various selections from the medieval and Renaissance eras
• Section Four invites readers to engage a series of debates
• Section Five moves the reader into the contemporary era, focusing on readings drawn from key theorists of the early and mid-twentieth century.

By securing actual syllabi from current teachers of the subject and building his book around the texts being used in those courses, the author has crafted a valuable tool for students and teachers of the history of rhetoric. I endorse Readings in the History of Rhetoric wholeheartedly! I very much wish I had this resource forty-some years ago.
Donovan J. Ochs, Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa