The Annals/The Histories

by Tacitus · 1852

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Cornelius Tacitus brilliantly chronicles the moral decline and rampant civil unrest in the Roman Empire in a period when the earliest foundations of modern Europe were being laid. The Annals commence in a.d. 14, at the death of Augustus, recounting the reigns of Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, and Nero, and conclude in a.d. 68, the year of Nero's suicide.The Historiesdocument the tumultuous year a.d. 69, when Emperors Galba, Otho, and Vitellius all perished in quick succession, ushering in Vespasian's ten-year reign. According to historian Will Durant, "[We must] rank Tacitus among the greatest. . . . The portraits he draws stand out more clearly, stride the stage more livingly than any others in historical literature." This Modern Library Paperback Classic includes newly commissioned endnotes.

Subject
historyhistoryMore like thisLess of thisphilosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of thispoliticspoliticsMore like thisLess of this
Genre
ancient Romeancient RomeMore like thisLess of thisancient worldancient worldMore like thisLess of thishistorical fictionhistorical fictionMore like thisLess of this
Setting
ancient historyancient historyMore like thisLess of thisantiquityantiquityMore like thisLess of thisancient Romeancient RomeMore like thisLess of thisItalyItalyMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
epic · 640 pages

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