Tacitus: Histories Book I

The first historical work by Rome’s greatest historian, Tacitus’ Histories hold a crucial place in the history of Latin literature. Book I covers the beginning of the infamous ‘Year of the Four Emperors’ (69 CE), which brought imperial Rome to the brink of destruction after the demise of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Galba, Otho, and Vitellius ride the currents of senatorial politics and military sedition to power, while the survivor Vespasian waits just off-stage. After a distinguished public career during the principates of Vespasian and his sons, Tacitus, in middle age, embarked on a historical narrative recording the seering events of the Rome of his youth. This edition provides a Latin text of Book I, a commentary accessible to students of intermediate level and above, and an introduction discussing historical, literary, and stylistic issues. The chance survival of three parallel accounts permits detailed analysis of Tacitus’ selection and stylization of material.

• The only edition currently available for students • Reports in full the parallel accounts by Plutarch, Suetonius and Dio, thereby allowing students to see Tacitus selecting and stylizing his raw material • Encourages detailed analysis of Tacitean style

Introduction; CORNELI TACITI HISTORIARVM LIBER PRIMVS; Commentary; Appendices.

\'I welcome and appreciate Cynthia Damon\'s new commentary on Book I as a lifeline to a difficult piece of Tacitean text and can only wish it had come much earlier. … the principles of Tacitean style and use of sources are easily transferable: this aspect of the commentary will greatly facilitate both the teaching of this difficult author, whose style is as much a part of his historical vision as it the material he chooses, and new scholarship, which can turn its attention in different directions. To those who know enough Latin to attempt Tacitus, D. has given an excellent example of what the genre of commentary can achieve in difficult literary circumstances.\'

– Holly Haynes, Dartmouth College