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 or nothing new 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 treatises 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.This volume covers thirty-six rhetorical treatises, many of them translated into English for the first time. Where possible complete treatises are presented; in other cases lengthy excerpts are supplied. The volume surveys all important developments in rhetoric as well as key treatises on preaching and dictamen, the medieval art of letter writing. A brief commentary prefaces each work. Ideally suited as a book of readings for courses in rhetoric, the volume will interest medievalists as well as rhetoricians.