Correspondence with a mentor

The correspondence between Marcus Aurelius and his rhetoric mentor and close friend Marcus Cornelius Fronton reveals a little-known side of the philosopher-emperor's personality, complementing the image of the Stoic sage, known from the famous reflections "Alone with Myself", with lively, touching details. The topics of the letters are literary preferences, exercises in rhetoric, vividly described impressions of everyday events, and ever-current conversations about the weather and health - all of this the friends express with genuine frankness of feelings.

And above all, the letters are imbued with their sincere concern for their loved ones and for each other.