The book "How to Write a Speech in Ancient Greek" contains three rhetorical essays that likely date back to the time of Diocletian (285–312 AD) and provide guidelines for composing demonstrative speeches for a variety of public and private occasions. Two of these are attributed to Menander Rhetor from Laodicea (southwestern Turkey), while the third, known as Ars Rhetorica, is incorrectly attributed to the historian and critic Dionysius of Halicarnassus. These essays originate from the rhetorical schools that flourished in the Roman Empire from the 2nd to the 4th century AD in the Greek East.

These works, purely Greek and richly influenced by the prose and poetry of the revered past, are aimed at the emerging orator considering a political career, one who will speak for the interests of his city to the Roman authorities and be a trusted defender of the Greek culture and heritage. They provide a glimpse into the literary culture, values, and educational practices, as well as the social concerns of these Greeks under Roman rule, both in public and private life, and significantly influenced later literature, both pagan and Christian. This edition offers a fresh translation, ample annotation, and texts based on the best critical editions.