Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor - Softcover

Everitt, Anthony

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0812970586 ISBN 13: 9780812970586

Publisher: Random House Trade, 2007

Synopsis

He found 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, instead choosing to chronicle the age in which he lived. Here, Anthony Everitt, the bestselling author of Cicero, gives a spellbinding and intimate account of his illustrious subject.

Augustus began his career as an inexperienced teenager plucked from his studies to take center stage in the drama of Roman politics, assisted by two school friends, Agrippa and Maecenas. Augustus's rise to power began with the assassination of his great-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 vivid, compelling biography of one of the most important rulers in history.

About this title

Review:

'An exhilarating portrait of Roman social customs and politics' (Publishing News)

'A comprehensive and readable account of [Augustus and the Roman world]' (Literary Review)

'This biography of the first Roman Emperor depicts Augustus, the man who turned inner weaknesses into strengths and painstakingly restored Rome's civic greatness at home and military doinance abroad . . . Quite a guy' (Tony Matthews, Defence Focus)

'His story is also the story of perhaps the most vibrant period of Roman history' (Sunday Business Post)

'This sparky text certainly brings the Emperor to life, as well as a host of supporting characters' (Sunday Telegraph)

'(A) solid biography' (Guardian)

Book Description:

A riveting new biography of Caesar Augustus, Rome's first emperor and one of the most influential men in history

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Trade
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0812970586
• ISBN 13: 9780812970586
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432