The Roman History

Oct 10, 2024 7:27 AM

Author:Cassius Dio,John Carter,Ian Scott-Kilvert

The Roman History

Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome (27 BC-AD 14), brought peace and prosperity to his city after decades of savage civil war. This selection from Cassius Dio's Roman History gives the fullest description of that long struggle and ultimate triumph - detailing the brutal battles and political feuds that led to the collapse of Rome's 400-year-old republic, and Augustus' subsequent reign as emperor. Included are accounts of military campaigns from Ethiopia to Yugoslavia, and of long conflict with Antony and Cleopatra. With skill and artistry, Dio brings to life many speeches from the era - among them Augustus' damning indictment of Antony's passion for the Egyptian queen - and provides a fascinating account of the debate between the great general Agrippa and Maecenas on the virtues of republicanism and monarchy.

Reviews

This is much more than history; it is a tapestry of inspiration and love

—— The Guardian

One cannot but marvel at Ackroyd's erudition, his energy in marshallin g minutiae, his ear for quotation, his flair for dazzling juxtapositions, his vibrant imagination and sheer exuberance

—— The Times

Ackroyd covers not only literature but art, architecture, music and almost everything else that has passed through the minds of the English...just one damn interesting thing after another

—— Sunday Times

This magisterial work... An unrivaled account of how the Nazi leadership ended up with a policy of industrialized mass murder of Jews - Probably no one is better qualified for this task than Christopher Browning.

—— Mark Mazower, New York Times

Browning is persuasive because he marshals his evidence with unrivalled skill and writes with awesome clarity.

—— Literary Review

To seek an answer to "why", we have first to grasp "how" and pick our way down the track which leads...from "Expel to Exploit to Exterminate". On that journey, this book is the best guide.

—— Observer

A winning combination of forensic precision with the historian's skill of telling a story clearly and powerfully... A demonstration of what good history is about

—— Evening Standard

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