Tacitus: The Histories, Volumes I and II (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Imperial Crisis, Civil War, and the Rise of Flavian Rome in a Classic Ancient HistoryBy Cornelius Tacitus
Length14h 7m
About this audiobook
Tacitus: The Histories, Volumes I and II presents one of antiquity's most penetrating accounts of imperial Rome in crisis, beginning with the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors in 69 CE and moving through the struggles that established Flavian rule. Written in Tacitus's famously compressed, ironic, and morally charged Latin prose, the work combines political narrative, psychological portraiture, military history, and senatorial critique. It stands within the classical historiographical tradition of Thucydides and Sallust, yet its bleak vision of power, corruption, and civic decline is unmistakably Tacitean. Cornelius Tacitus, senator, advocate, and former provincial governor, wrote with intimate knowledge of Roman public life and the dangers of autocratic rule. His career under the Flavians, Nerva, and Trajan gave him both proximity to power and retrospective distance from the tyranny of Domitian. These experiences shaped his suspicion of imperial rhetoric, his fascination with compromised virtue, and his enduring concern with how freedom survives under monarchy. This edition is recommended to readers seeking a rigorous entry into Roman political thought and historical prose. It rewards classicists, historians, and general readers alike with a drama of ambition, fear, loyalty, and institutional collapse whose insights remain unsettlingly modern.
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.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- 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
GenreHistory
Length14 hrs 7 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 21, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
33Vitellius in Rome
2Introduction
34SUMMARY OF CHIEF EVENTS
3Synopsis
35BOOK III
4Historical Context
36Antonius' Advance
5Author Biography
37Dissension in Vitellius' Camp
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6SUMMARY OF CHIEF EVENTS
38The Engagement near Cremona
7TACITUS THE HISTORIES
39The Fate of Cremona
8INTRODUCTION
40Vitellius
9SUMMARY OF CHIEF EVENTS
41The State of the Provinces
10BOOK I
42Antonius' Advance from Cremona
11Preface
43Vitellius' Measures of Defence
12The State of the Empire
44The Passage of the Apennines
13Galba's Position
45The Abdication of Vitellius and the Burning of the Capitol
14The Distribution of Forces
46The Taking of Tarracina
15The German Revolt and the Adoption of Piso
47The Sack of Rome and the end of Vitellius
16Galba's Measures of Precaution
48BOOK IV
17The Rise of Otho
49Rome after the Fall of Vitellius
18The Fall of Galba
50The Revolt of Civilis and the Batavi
19Otho on the Throne
51The Mutiny of the Batavian Cohorts
20Dramatis Personae
52The Siege of Vetera
21The Rise of Vitellius
53The Relief of Vetera
22The March of Valens' Column
54Rome and the Empire under Vespasian
23The March of Caecina's Column
55The Loss of Germany
24Otho's Government and the Distribution of Forces
56The Ebb-tide of Revolt
25Otho's Plans
57Events in Rome and in the East
26BOOK II
58BOOK V
27Vespasian and the East
59The Conquest of Judaea
28The Trial of Annius Faustus
60The End of the German Revolt
29Otho's Measures of Defence
61INDEX OF NAMES
30The Decisive Struggle
62Analysis
31Vitellius' Principate
63Reflection
32The Revolt of Vespasian
64Memorable Quotes
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