Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Historical Romance of Fourteenth-Century Rome, Civic Liberty, and the Tragedy of Popular PowerBy Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Length20h 39m
About this audiobook
Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes dramatizes the career of Cola di Rienzo, the fourteenth-century Roman reformer who sought to restore civic liberty amid aristocratic violence and papal absence. Bulwer-Lytton fuses historical romance with political tragedy, clothing medieval Italy in elevated rhetoric, melodramatic intensity, and antiquarian detail. Written in the age of Scott's influence yet animated by Victorian liberal concerns, the novel examines charisma, republican idealism, and the fatal instability of popular power. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, one of the most versatile and widely read writers of nineteenth-century Britain, was a novelist, playwright, politician, and public intellectual. His parliamentary experience and fascination with social authority inform Rienzi's probing treatment of leadership and reform. Bulwer-Lytton's interest in history was never merely decorative: he used the past as a theatre in which modern anxieties about class, governance, eloquence, and public opinion could be tested. This book is recommended to readers who value historically grounded fiction that combines spectacle with political reflection. Those interested in Rome, revolutionary aspiration, or the development of the historical novel will find Rienzi both intellectually rewarding and dramatically compelling.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.0 (52)
Includes Goodreads
GenreHistorical Fiction, General Fiction
Length20 hrs 39 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMay 7, 2021
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Preface to the First Edition of Rienzi.
Show all chaptersShow less
6Preface to the Present Edition, 1848.
7Book I. The Time, The Place, and The Men.
8Chapter I. The Brothers.
9Chapter II. An Historical Survey—not to Be Passed Over, Except by
10Chapter III. The Brawl.
11Chapter IV. An Adventure.
12Chapter V. The Description of a Conspirator, and the Dawn of the Conspiracy.
13Chapter VI. Irene in the Palace of Adrian di Castello.
14Chapter VII. Upon Love and Lovers.
15Chapter VIII. The Enthusiastic Man Judged by the Discreet Man.
16Chapter IX. “When the People Saw this Picture, Every One Marvelled.”
17Chapter X. A Rough Spirit Raised, Which May Hereafter Rend the Wizard.
18Chapter XI. Nina di Raselli.
19Chapter XII. The Strange Adventures that Befel Walter de Montreal.
20Book II. The Revolution
21Chapter I. The Knight of Provence, and his Proposal.
22Chapter II. The Interview, and the Doubt.
23Chapter III. The Situation of a Popular Patrician in Times of Popular Discontent.—Scene of the Lateran.
24Chapter IV. The Ambitious Citizen, and the Ambitious Soldier.
25Chapter V. The Procession of the Barons.—The Beginning of the End.
26Chapter VI. The Conspirator Becomes the Magistrate.
27Chapter VII. Looking after the Halter when the Mare is Stolen.
28Chapter VIII. The Attack—the Retreat—the Election—and the Adhesion.
29Book III. The Freedom Without Law.
30Chapter I. The Return of Walter de Montreal to his Fortress.
31Chapter II. The Life of Love and War—the Messenger of Peace—the Joust.
32Chapter III. The Conversation between the Roman and the Provencal—Adeline’s History—the Moonlit Sea—the Lute and the Song.
33Book IV. The Triumph and the Pomp.
34Chapter I. The Boy Angelo—the Dream of Nina Fulfilled.
35Chapter II. The Blessing of A Councillor Whose Interests and Heart Are Our Own.—the Straws Thrown Upward—Do They Portend A Storm.
36Chapter III. The Actor Unmasked.
37Chapter IV. The Enemy’s Camp.
38Chapter V. The Night and its Incidents.
39Chapter VI. The Celebrated Citation.
40Chapter VII. The Festival.
41Book V. The Crisis.
42Chapter I. The Judgment of the Tribune.
43Chapter II. The Flight.
44Chapter III. The Battle.
45Chapter IV. The Hollowness of the Base.
46Chapter V. The Rottenness of the Edifice.
47Chapter VI. The Fall of the Temple.
48Chapter VII. The Successors of an Unsuccessful Revolution—Who is to Blame—the Forsaken one or the Forsakers?
49Book VI. The Plague.
50Chapter 1. The Retreat of the Lover.
The Complete Works of Edward Bulwer-LyttonEdward Bulwer-Lytton556h 12m$1.99 · $0.00
Gesammelte Romane und Erzählungen: Die letzten Tage von Pompeji + Das Geschlecht der Zukunft + Das Haus des schwarzen Magiers + Die Pilger des Rheins + Paul Clifford und mehr (Kommentiert)Edward Bulwer-Lytton133h 42m$1 · $0.00
Das Geschlecht der Zukunft (Kommentiert)Edward Bulwer-Lytton7h 12m3.7 (143)$1 · $0.00
Godolphin (Kommentiert)Edward Bulwer-Lytton16h 13m$1 · $0.00
The Greatest Gothich Novels of Edward Bulwer-Lytton (Annotated)Edward Bulwer-Lytton53h$2 · $0.00
The Last Days of Pompeii (Annotated)Edward Bulwer-Lytton17h 50m$2 · $0.00
Ausgewählte Romane und Erzählungen von Edward Bulwer-Lytton (Kommentiert)Edward Bulwer-Lytton133h 42m$1 · $0.00
Zanoni (Annotated)Edward Bulwer-Lytton17h 9m4.4 (301)$2 · $0.00
Die Pilger des Rheins (Die ideale Welt) (Kommentiert)Edward Bulwer-Lytton11h 56m$1 · $0.00
Eugen Aram: Kriminalroman (Kommentiert)Edward Bulwer-Lytton21h 40m4.1 (13)$1 · $0.00
LOST IN ROME (Annotated)Edward Bulwer-Lytton37h 38m$2 · $0.00
Paul Clifford (Annotated)Edward Bulwer-Lytton20h 43m$2 · $0.00
The Coming RaceEdward Bulwer-Lytton6h 34m3.4 (2.7K)$2 · $0.00
Rienzi, Last of the Roman TribunesEdward Bulwer-Lytton20h 36m3.9 (77)$1 · $0.00
The Greatest Gothich Novels of Edward Bulwer-LyttonEdward Bulwer-Lytton53h 15m$1 · $0.00
EDWARD BULWER-LYTTON Ultimate Collection: Novels, Plays, Poems & Essays (Annotated)Edward Bulwer-Lytton559h 4m$2 · $0.00
Die Pilger des RheinsEdward Bulwer-Lytton10h 48m$2 · $0.00
Back in Roman TimesEdward Bulwer-Lytton37h 33m$1 · $0.00
Die letzten Tage von Pompeji: Historischer RomanEdward Bulwer-Lytton20h 41m3.8 (18.8K)$1 · $0.00
Die letzten Tage von Pompeji (Historischer Roman)Edward Bulwer-Lytton20h 39m3.8 (19.2K)$2 · $0.00
Ivanhoe (Annotated)Walter Scott22h 52m4.8 (88)$2 · $0.00
Scaramouche (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini15h 24m4.6 (1.8K)$2 · $0.00
Northern ShadowsDaniel Greene12h 52m4.7 (281)$23
The Ghost by the Billabong (The Matilda Saga, #5)Jackie French14h 58m4.6 (773)$33 · $0.00
The Labyrinth of the SpiritsCarlos Ruiz Zafon27h 55m4.5 (77.2K)$53 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
Their Castilian OrphanAnna Belfrage14h 45m4.7 (122)$27
Lieutenant Hornblower (Annotated)C. S. Forester11h 41m4.5 (2.9K)$2 · $0.00
Eagles over BritainLee Jackson12h 26m4.5 (18.6K)$23
Rilla of InglesideLucy Maud Montgomery11h 44m4.5 (48.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Viennese DressmakerKathryn Gauci11h 46m4.5 (2.1K)$23 · $0.00
The Man in the Brown Suit & They Came to BaghdadAgatha Christie15h 43m4.6 (495)$33 · $0.00
Under the Light of the Italian MoonJennifer Anton12h 28m4.5 (5.3K)$23 · $0.00
Jubilee, 50th Anniversary EditionMargaret Walker15h 43m4.5 (9.5K)$25 · $0.00
Arch of TriumphErich Maria Remarque15h 51m4.4 (36.6K)$28
Serenade for NadiaZülfü Livaneli9h 9m4.4 (20.1K)$20
Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen14h 44m4.4 (4.7M)$2 · $0.00
Flying Colours (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith9h 26m4.4 (10.1K)$2 · $0.00
With Love from HarlemReShonda Tate13h 48m4.5 (2K)$6 · $0.00
Under the Java MoonHeather B. Moore12h 23m4.4 (3.2K)$23
Ethic IIAshley Antoinette9h 1m4.7 (8K)$20
RiversnowTess Thompson8h 11m4.7 (1.3K)$20
Supreme ClienteleAshley & JaQuavis8h 58m4.7 (3.4K)$20
Body Refinement in a Beast Tamer’s World, Book 1Seth Ring14h 7m4.7 (1.3K)$27
Desperate MeasuresBrenda Jackson8h 59m4.7 (669)$28 · $0.00
Searching For ThanksgivingS.E. Smith4h 24m4.8 (395)$20
Naughty 4Brenda Hampton7h 30m4.7 (726)$17
The Dance with Me TrilogyShelley Shepard Gray21h 44m4.7 (1.2K)$35
The DopemanJaQuavis Coleman5h 25m4.7 (3.8K)$20
BAEJahquel J.5h 22m4.7 (3.1K)$20
Dark RisingJeffrey Wilson, Brian Andrews13h 47m4.7 (1.3K)$27
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Grand Opening 2Carl Weber9h 16m4.7 (2.4K)$20
Sons of Valor II: Violence of ActionBrian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson12h 34m4.6 (3.6K)$23
Malevolent MagicMildred Abbott7h 13m4.7 (1.2K)$17
Bikes, Toys, and Hot BoyzGenesis Woods, Shantaé13h 9m4.7 (722)$23
This Side of Paradise - The Original 1920 Edition (Annotated)F. Scott Fitzgerald11h 30m4.6 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
War LordBernard Cornwell13h 21m4.6 (33.1K)$33 · $0.00
Ghetto BastardK’wan7h 37m4.6 (2.9K)$20
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic NovelFrancis Scott Fitzgerald4h 45m4.6 (9.3K)$18 · $0.00
You may also like
The Marie Antoinette RomancesAlexandre Dumas7h 50m4.1 (722)$15 · $0.00
I, Eliza HamiltonSusan Holloway Scott17h 56m4.1 (10.5K)$25 · $0.00
El DoradoBaroness Emma Orczy13h 48m4.2 (3.5K)$21 · $0.00
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens15h 1m4.1 (1.1M)$4 · $0.00
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens14h 43m4.1 (1M)$25
EgmontJohann Wolfgang von Goethe3h 23m3.7 (1.2K)$2.30
Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal SwampHarriet Beecher Stowe25h 17m3.8 (1.5K)$2.30
The RakessScarlett Peckham10h 27m4.0 (4.5K)$29 · $0.00
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens14h 19m4.1 (1M)$38
Ribbons of ScarletKate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, E. Knight, Sophie Perinot, Heather Webb16h 1m4.2 (5.7K)$33 · $0.00
Old Mortality (Annotated)Walter Scott20h 59m3.9 (5.7K)$2 · $0.00
Osceola The Seminole, or The Red Fawn of the Flower LandThomas Mayne Reid15h 44m4.0 (1.2K)$2.30
King CoalUpton Sinclair13h 34m4.0 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Tamed by a HighlanderPaula Quinn10h 19m4.1 (3.4K)$20
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens15h 1m4.1 (1.1M)$5 · $0.00
The RebelMay McGoldrick, Jan Coffey14h 20m4.2 (303)$6 · $0.00
The Children of the New ForestFrederick Marryat12h 10m4.0 (8.8K)$2.30
Marie, A Story of Russian LoveAlexander Pushkin3h 21m4.0 (490)$1.20 · $0.00
The Countess of Charny; or, The Execution of King Louis XVIAlexandre Dumas7h 41m4.0 (562)$1 · $0.00
Ninety-Three & Les Misérables: Illustrated Edition (Annotated)Victor Hugo80h 37m$2 · $0.00