M. Fabii Quinctiliani de Institutione Oratoria
M. Fabii Quinctiliani de Institutione Oratoria Libri Duodecim: Juxta Editionem, Quae, ad Fidem Trium Codicum Mss. & Octo Impressorum, Prodiit è Theatro Sheldoniano, Oxonii, An. 1693
by Quintilian
| M. Fabii Quinctiliani de Institutione Oratoria | |
 Title page from M. Fabii Quinctiliani de Institutione Oratoria, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Quintilian |
| Published | Londoni: Excudebat E.P. ; Impensis J. Nicholson |
| Date | 1714 |
| Language | Latin |
| Pages | 721 |
Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was a famous Roman advocator and orator.[1] He was born c. 35 CE at Calagurris in Spain, but his death date remains a mystery.[2] Quintilian possibly received all his education in Rome,[3] where he became close with the orator Domitius Afer.[4]
Quintilian’s wrote and published his one surviving work Institutio Oratoria, “Education of the Orator, in twelve books, prior to 96CE.[5] It describes the life and training of an orator from birth until grown age.[6] Book 1 covers the importance of language as a foundation in early education, including the influence of nurses, parents, and slaves, as well as the superiority of schools over home education. Book 2 discusses the entrance of a boy into rhetoric school and the basic goals, but also what makes a good instructor and how to work with other students. Books 3-7 discuss technicalities of oration, relating to court speeches. Books 8-11 illuminate Quintilian’s views on oratory style and delivery. Perhaps most interesting is Book 10 which discusses famous Greek and Latin writers and orators, with Quintilian giving his uncensored views of many popular ancients. Book 12 sums up the discussion of an ideal orator by elucidating the personal and moral characteristics which make a vir bonus dicendi peritus, ‘a good man who knows how to speak’ (Quintilian quoting Cato the Elder).[7] Quintilian insisted on eloquence as a moral force, but was most concerned with good content to help shape sensible men.[8]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Quinctilianus de instutitione Oratoriâ. 4to. and given by Thomas Jefferson to his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph. The precise edition owned by Wythe is unknown. George Wythe's Library[9] on LibraryThing suggests the 1693 edition published at Oxford, noting "This is the only quarto edition in ESTC." The Brown Bibliography[10] lists the London edition published in 1714 based on a copy at the University of Virginia which reported bears the inscription "Thomas J. Randolph, July 18th, 1826." The signature is no longer visible as the book has been rebound, however, Brown notes the size as quarto. The English Short Title Catalog describes the 1714 edition as an octavo. Nevertheless, the Wolf Law Library followed Brown's suggestion and purchased the London edition.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in contemporary leather. Front and back boards feature decorative tooling.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ "Quintilian" in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, ed. by John Roberts (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).
- ↑ "Quinti'lian” in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, ed. by M.C. Howatson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ "Quintilian"
- ↑ "Quintilian"
- ↑ "Quinti'lian”
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ "Quintilian"
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on November 13, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
