The Comic History of Rome (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. An Irreverent Victorian Burlesque of Roman Legends, Republics, Emperors, and Classical PedantryBy Gilbert Abbott À Beckett
Length13h
About this audiobook
The Comic History of Rome retells Roman history from the city's legendary foundation to the imperial age with irreverent wit, mock-erudition, and a keen eye for political absurdity. À Beckett converts Livy, Plutarch, and schoolroom chronology into Victorian burlesque, exposing the pomposity of heroic narrative without abandoning historical sequence. Its jokes, puns, anachronisms, and satirical comparisons place it within the nineteenth-century tradition of comic historiography, handsomely associated with John Leech's illustrations and the culture of Punch. Gilbert Abbott À Beckett was a barrister, journalist, playwright, and one of the original contributors to Punch, whose comic intelligence was shaped by law, theatre, and classical education. His earlier Comic History of England and Comic Blackstone show the same impulse: to make revered institutions intelligible by puncturing their solemnity. Rome, long central to elite education, offered him ideal material for parodying both ancient authority and Victorian pedantry. This book is recommended to readers who enjoy history enlivened by satire, and to students of Victorian humor, classical reception, and popular education. It should not be approached as a conventional scholarly history, but as a brilliantly knowing comic performance that reveals how the nineteenth century laughed at antiquity while still taking it seriously.
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
GenreHumor
Length13 hrs
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 24, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Comic History of Rome (Annotated)
37CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH.
2Introduction
38THE FIRST PUNIC WAR.
3Synopsis
39CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH.
4Historical Context
40SOME MISCELLANEOUS WARS OF ROME.
5PREFACE
41CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH.
Show all chaptersShow less
6ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL.
42THE SECOND PUNIC WAR.
7ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.
43CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH.
8COMIC HISTORY OF ROME.
44CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND PUNIC WAR.
9CHAPTER THE FIRST.
45CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH.
10FROM THE FOUNDATION OF ROME TO THE DEATH OF ROMULUS.
46WAR WITH THE MACEDONIANS. PROCLAMATION OF THE FREEDOM OF GREECE BY FLAMINIUS. WAR WITH ANTIOCHUS. DEATH OF HANNIBAL, AND OF SCIPIO AFRICANUS.
11CHAPTER THE SECOND.
47CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH.
12FROM THE ACCESSION OF NUMA POMPILIUS TO THE DEATH OF ANCUS MARTIUS.
48PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. MORALS, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND STATE OF THE DRAMA AND LITERATURE AMONG THE ROMANS.
13CHAPTER THE THIRD.
49CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST.
14FROM THE ACCESSION OF TARQUINIUS PRISCUS TO THE DEATH OF SERVIUS TULLIUS.
50WARS AGAINST PERSEUS. THE THIRD PUNIC WAR. SIEGE AND DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE, AND DITTO DITTO OF CORINTH.
15CHAPTER THE FOURTH.
51CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND.
16FROM THE ACCESSION OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS TO THE BANISHMENT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND THE ABOLITION OF THE KINGLY DIGNITY.
52WARS IN SPAIN. VIRIATHUS. DESTRUCTION OF NUMANTIA. THE SERVILE WAR IN SICILY. APPROPRIATION OF PERGAMUS.
17CHAPTER THE FIFTH.
53CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD
18FROM THE BANISHMENT OF TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE REGILLUS.
54THE GRACCHI AND THEIR MOTHER. RISE AND FALL OF TIBERIUS AND CAIUS GRACCHUS.
19CHAPTER THE SIXTH.
55CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH.
20FROM THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS TO THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WITH THE VOLSCIANS.
56THE JUGURTHINE WAR. WAR AGAINST THE CIMBRI AND TEUTONI.
21CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.
57CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH.
22FROM THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WITH THE VOLSCIANS TO THE PASSING OF THE BILL OF TERENTILLUS.
58MITHRIDATES, SULLA, MARIUS, CINNA, ET CÆTERA.
23CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.
59CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH.
24FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DECEMVIRATE TO THE TAKING OF VEII.
60DEATH OF CINNA. RETURN OF SULLA TO ROME. C. PAPIRIUS CARBO. DICTATORSHIP OF SULLA.
25CHAPTER THE NINTH.
61CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH.
26FROM THE TAKING OF ROME BY THE GAULS, TO ITS SUBSEQUENT PRESERVATION BY MANLIUS.
62REACTION AGAINST THE POLICY OF SULLA. SERVICES OF Q. SERTORIUS. METELLUS. CN. POMPEY. SPIRITED STEPS OF SPARTACUS. THE IRATE PIRATE.
27CHAPTER THE TENTH.
63CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH.
28FROM THE TRIBUNESHIP OF C. LICINIUS TO THE DEFEAT OF THE GAULS BY VALERIUS.
64THE THIRD MITHRIDATIC WAR. DEPOSITION AND DEATH OF MITHRIDATES.
29CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH.
65CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH.
30FROM THE FIRST WAR AGAINST THE SAMNITES TO THE PASSING OF THE LAWS OF PUBLILIUS.
66CONSPIRACY OF CATILINE. INTRODUCTION OF CICERO. CÆSAR, POMPEY, CRASSUS, AND CO.
31CHAPTER THE TWELFTH.
67CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH.
32FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND TO THE END OF THE THIRD SAMNITE WAR.
68OVERTHROW OF CRASSUS. DEFEAT OF POMPEY. DICTATORSHIP AND DEATH OF CÆSAR. END OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC.
33CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.
69WORKS PUBLISHED BY
34ON THE PEACEFUL OCCUPATIONS OF THE ROMANS. FROM SCARCITY OF SUBJECT, NECESSARILY A VERY SHORT CHAPTER.
70Analysis
35CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH.
71Reflection
36FROM THE END OF THE THIRD SAMNITE WAR TO THE SUBJUGATION OF ALL ITALY BY THE ROMANS.
72Memorable Quotes
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