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
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Author Biography
Show all chaptersShow less
6SUMMARY OF CHIEF EVENTS
7TACITUS THE HISTORIES
8INTRODUCTION
9SUMMARY OF CHIEF EVENTS
10BOOK I
11Preface
12The State of the Empire
13Galba's Position
14The Distribution of Forces
15The German Revolt and the Adoption of Piso
16Galba's Measures of Precaution
17The Rise of Otho
18The Fall of Galba
19Otho on the Throne
20Dramatis Personae
21The Rise of Vitellius
22The March of Valens' Column
23The March of Caecina's Column
24Otho's Government and the Distribution of Forces
25Otho's Plans
26BOOK II
27Vespasian and the East
28The Trial of Annius Faustus
29Otho's Measures of Defence
30The Decisive Struggle
31Vitellius' Principate
32The Revolt of Vespasian
33Vitellius in Rome
34SUMMARY OF CHIEF EVENTS
35BOOK III
36Antonius' Advance
37Dissension in Vitellius' Camp
38The Engagement near Cremona
39The Fate of Cremona
40Vitellius
41The State of the Provinces
42Antonius' Advance from Cremona
43Vitellius' Measures of Defence
44The Passage of the Apennines
45The Abdication of Vitellius and the Burning of the Capitol
46The Taking of Tarracina
47The Sack of Rome and the end of Vitellius
48BOOK IV
49Rome after the Fall of Vitellius
50The Revolt of Civilis and the Batavi
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