One of the greatest Athenian orators, this collection of the speeches of Demosthenes was published in 1554 by Paulus Manutius, the third son of Aldus Manutius, at Venice.

Demosthenes was born in 384 BC and was exposed to oratory at an early age. Due to the mismanagement of his inheritance by his guardians, Demosthenes was forced to take action and by the age of 20 managed to regain control of what remained.

Following this success, he began to take an interest in public affairs and it was through these activities that he made his name. Faced with the rise of Macedon under Philip II, Demosthenes issued his Philippics, a series of speeches warning against the ambitions of the king. These speeches eventually persuaded Athens to side with Thebes against Philip. The endeavour was ultimately unsuccessful and Macedonian control over most of the Greek mainland was secured. Nevertheless, Demosthenes consistently spoke against Macedonian rule, agitating for the restoration of Athenian independence until his exile and suicide in 322 BC.