Petrarch's Letters to Classical Authors

"Petrarch's Letters to Classical Authors" by Francesco Petrarca is a set of letters from the 1300's where the author wrote to old famous thinkers like Cicero, Seneca, and Vergil. The big idea in these letters is Petrarch thinking deeply about these thinkers and disagreeing with their actions while still appreciating their ideas. Petrarch starts by talking about how he writes to these thinkers and admires Cicero after discovering Cicero's letters by writing to Cicero like they are friends. However, Petrarch also calls out Cicero's bad decisions, like getting mixed up in politics, saying thinkers should spend their later years in peace. The tone is a mix of respect and questioning as Petrarch looks at what these old, famous people left behind.