Since its original publication by UNC Press in 1980, this book has provided thousands of students with a concise
introduction and guide to the history of the classical tradition in rhetoric, the ancient but ever vital art of
persuasion.
Now, George Kennedy offers a thoroughly revised and updated edition of Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian
and Secular Tradition. From its development in ancient Greece and Rome, through its continuation and adaptation
in Europe and America through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, to its enduring significance in the twentieth century,
he traces the theory and practice of classical rhetoric through history. At each stage of the way, he demonstrates
how new societies modified classical rhetoric to fit their needs.
For this edition, Kennedy has updated the text and the bibliography to incorporate new scholarship; added sections
relating to women orators and rhetoricians throughout history; and enlarged the discussion of rhetoric in America,
Germany, and Spain. He has also included more information about historical and intellectual contexts to assist
the reader in understanding the tradition of classical rhetoric.