Seneca, a Latin philosopher born in Cordoba, lived between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD. He studied rhetoric and philosophy in Rome but was forced into exile in 41 BC. On his return to Rome, he became the tutor of the young Nero and composed an excessively biting satire of his society. In these letters he addresses his old friend Lucilius. Of modest origin, Lucilius rose, through merit, to the rank of knight, then procurator of Sicily, at the time of his correspondence with Seneca. Although long-time friends, Lucilius is younger than Seneca, so he is fully at home in his role as disciple. It was during the few months preceding his suicide that Seneca wrote this correspondence in the form of a collection of moral writings.