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The Histories

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The Histories

By: Tacitus
Narrated by: James Adams
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About this listen

 This superbly written, highly listenable account of the tumult of A.D. 69 focuses on the four men who sought imperial power in the void left by Nero: an old man, a soldier, a playboy, and an extravagant debaucher. The empire-wide, year-long civil war that resulted is brought to life in this sustained narrative, which is rich in detail, intrigue, and insight, as well as the aristocratic biases of the author. Though part of the original work is lost, even thousands of years later this account is a gripping masterwork.Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ancient Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Classics Collections War
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Either Tacitus was a better writer than Josephus or he has been better translated. He has some odd ideas about the Jews - he regards one of their obnoxious customs as “not even killing their later-born children”! However, other “barbarians” are sometimes described as noble or courageous, and he avoids the gossipy accounts of debauchery so beloved by Suetonius. Sadly, the end of the book is lost, which would have told of the end of the Jewish War, Masada, and the Destruction of the Temple.

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