Description
By Publius Cornelius Tacitus. The Roman Empire stood on the brink of collapse. Emperors rose and fell in rapid succession. Armies fought one another instead of Rome’s enemies. Cities burned, provinces rebelled, and the fate of the empire hung in the balance.
Written by the great Roman historian Tacitus, Histories is the classic account of these extraordinary events. Beginning with the death of Nero and the civil wars of AD 69–70, Tacitus recounts the dramatic “Year of the Four Emperors,” as Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian compete for supreme power. His narrative also follows the bloody struggle for Rome itself, the destruction of the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill, and the fierce Batavian Revolt that threatened Roman rule along the Rhine frontier.
Renowned for his penetrating insight into human character, Tacitus offers far more than a military history. He explores the nature of power, ambition, loyalty, corruption, and the fragile relationship between rulers and the ruled. Combining vivid storytelling with careful historical investigation, Histories has long been regarded as one of the masterpieces of ancient historical writing.
This edition features the celebrated English translation by Alfred J. Church and William J. Brodribb, carefully presented for modern readers. It also includes a substantial new introduction explaining the historical background to the work, informative biographies of Tacitus and the translators, and 136 new explanatory footnotes that illuminate the people, places, military units, and historical events mentioned throughout the text.
Whether you are interested in Roman history, classical literature, military history, or the enduring lessons of political upheaval, this edition provides an engaging and accessible introduction to one of antiquity’s greatest historians. Nearly two millennia after it was written, Tacitus’s masterpiece remains as compelling, insightful, and relevant as ever.
