Lives of the Caesars, Volume I: Julius. Augustus. Tiberius. Gaius. Caligula (Loeb Classical Library 31) - Hardcover

Suetonius

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0674995708 ISBN 13: 9780674995703

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 1914

Synopsis

Antiquity’s imperial biographer par excellence.

Suetonius (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, born ca. AD 70), son of a military tribune, was at first an advocate and a teacher of rhetoric, but later became the emperor Hadrian’s private secretary, 119–121. He dedicated to C. Septicius Clarus, prefect of the praetorian guard, his Lives of the Caesars. After the dismissal of both men for some breach of court etiquette, Suetonius apparently retired and probably continued his writing. His other works, many known by title, are now lost except for part of the Lives of Illustrious Men (of letters).

Friend of Pliny the Younger, Suetonius was a studious and careful collector of facts, so that the extant lives of the emperors (including Julius Caesar the dictator) to Domitian are invaluable. His plan in Lives of the Caesars is the emperor’s family and early years; public and private life; death. We find many anecdotes, much gossip of the imperial court, and various details of character and personal appearance. Suetonius’ account of Nero’s death is justly famous.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Suetonius is in two volumes.

About this title

About the Author

John Carew Rolfe (1859–1943) taught at Cornell, Harvard, and the Universities of Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 1914
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0674995708
• ISBN 13: 9780674995703
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 528