Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor
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- ISBN13: 9780812970586
- Condition: New
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Product Description
He establish Rome made of clay and left it made of marble. As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus transformed the unruly Republic into the greatest empire the world had ever seen. His consolidation and expansion of Roman power two thousand years ago laid the foundations, for all of Western history to follow. Yet, despite Augustus’s accomplishments, very few biographers have concentrated on the man himself, as a replacement for choosing to chronicle the age in which he lived. Here, Anthony Everitt, the bestselling leader of Cicero, gives a spellbinding and intimate account of his illustrious theme.
Augustus started his career as an inexperienced teenager plucked from his studies to take center stage in the drama of Roman politics, helped by two school friends, Agrippa and Maecenas. Augustus’s rise to power started with the assassination of his fantastic-uncle and adoptive father, Julius Caesar, and culminated in the titanic duel with Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
The world that made Augustus–and that he himself later remade–was driven by intrigue, sex, ceremony, violence, scandal, and naked ambition. Everitt has taken some of the household names of history–Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Antony, Cleopatra–whom few know the full truth about, and turned them into flesh-and-blood human beings.
At a time when many consider America an empire, this stunning portrait of the greatest emperor who ever lived makes for enlightening and engrossing reading. Everitt brings to life the world of a giant, rendered faithfully and sympathetically in human scale. A study of power and political genius, Augustus is a plain, compelling biography of one of the most vital rulers in history.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Anthony Everitt brings a judicious sense to the weighing of the sketchy sources that are inevitable in a biography of Augustus. Everitt also gives perspective, as in his observation that neither Augustus nor his privileged colleagues were aware of the most vital event of his long reign as emperor: the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The psychology of the very ancient Romans is fascinating. Especially for a Christian, it is fascinating to see what was the mentality of the most successful and powerful at the time of Christ’s birth and to contrast that mentality with the radically different ways of the Nazarene. Contrast is a fantastic teacher. Many times we learn much from persons we do not wish to imitate at all and who, in fact, repel us. Wisdom has many teachers. History is one of them, and Mr. Everitt has helped to transmit that wisdom.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
A decent popularizaion of the theme. Eap. excellent on all-purpose background and overall perspective.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
Very well written, readable history that easily references to the present political situation in the U.S.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
Not just a dull history book. Mr Everitt, paints a tale with past facts that is entertaining and fun. Kudos, to Mr Everitt.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
I must disagree with the glowing reviews this book has received. I reflect it was in all-purpose factual (based on the sources) but the speculation read nearly like pseudo-history al la “The Davinci Code.” It seemed to me, the leader accepted some comments from the sources, and discounted others, lacking ever really adage why. An introductory book on the live Augustus should have some comment on the source material, and why it should be viewed with some scrutiny.
The book spent more time on the early life of the Pinceps and then seemed to speed up after the battle of Actium. I also got the distinct feeling the leader place Octavius in a terrible light whenever being compared to Mark Antony. There seemed to be a sudden change once Antony was out of the picture. Then, Augustus could do no incorrect, unless it was in regards to his moral belief; which seemed only worthy of the authors scorn.
If you are reading to delight in a excellent biography, and already know some things about Republican/imperial Rome, this is an okay book. You should be able to go over the chapters with some enjoyment. If you are a beginner and looking for an introductory book on the fantastic change between the Republic to the Empire, my dread would be, this book may lead you astray.
Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5