By presenting treatises from nearly every century of the period 430 to 1416 AD, this title intends to make clear the diversity of interest as well as the continuity of approach that marked the rhetoric of the Middle Ages. It surveys the developments in rhetoric as well as key treatises on preaching and dictamen, the medieval art of letter writing.

This authoritative anthology will put to rest the general impression that traditional rhetoric had little impact during the years between the death of St. Augustine and Bracciolini's rediscovery of Quintilian. Although little was added to the corpus of material called rhetoric, this discipline nonetheless played an important part as it was brought to bear on new areas of practical need. By presenting 36 rhetorical treatises-many translated into English for the first time-from nearly every century of the period 430 to 1416 A.D., the editors make clear the diversity of interest as well as the continuity of approach that marked the rhetoric of the Middle Ages.