AN ANCIENT EXAMPLE OF LITERARY BLACKMAIL

Towards the end of his life and especially after his exile in 58-57BC, Cicero’s publication program accelerated. While he aimed topromote his own glory, he had to do so in an environment wherewriting about oneself attracted censure. This article explores some ofthe ways in which Cicero tries to overcome this limitation. Theseinclude writing about himself indirectly, defending artists in court,soliciting historians to include his role as consul in their works andeven attempts at public literary blackmail, specifically towards hisprolific contemporary, Marcus Terentius Varro