Epistles, Volume I

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, born at Corduba (Cordova) around 4 BCE, hailed from a prominent and wealthy family. He spent an ailing childhood and youth in Rome under an aunt's care. Seneca became renowned in rhetoric, philosophy, financial affairs, and imperial service. Despite some disgrace during Claudius’ reign, he became a tutor and later, in 54 CE, an advising minister to Nero, failing to prevent some of Nero's worst misdeeds. Involved (innocently?) in a conspiracy, Seneca was ordered to take his own life in 65 CE. Although wealthy, he preached indifference to wealth; while avoiding pain and death, he professed scorn of both, illustrating other contrasts between his practice and principle.

We have Seneca's philosophical or moral essays—ten, traditionally called Dialogues—covering themes such as providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquility, the brevity of life, gift-giving, and forgiveness. His treatises on natural phenomena are also extant. Furthermore, there are 124 epistles where he writes in a relaxed style about moral and ethical questions, linking them to personal experiences. Alongside these is a skit on the official deification of Claudius, Apocolocyntosis (in Loeb number 15), and nine rhetorical tragedies based on ancient Greek themes. Many epistles and all his speeches are lost.

The 124 epistles are collected in Volumes IV–VI of the Loeb Classical Library's ten-volume edition of Seneca.