Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor

ISBN 10: 1428101918 ISBN 13: 9781428101913

Publisher: Recorded Books, 2006

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

Praise for CICERO: A TURBULENT LIFE

'An engrossing book ... Everitt brings [Cicero] alive, making hima credible as well as a remarkable figure' (Allan Massie, Literary Review)

'Unobtrusively crammed with fascinating information about Roman life and customs, splendidly clear and coherent in its narrative and altogether convincing in its portraiture' (Sunday Independent)

'[Anthony Everitt's] achievement is to have replaced the austere classroom effigy with an altogether rounder, more awkward and human person' (Financial Times)

'Excellent ... Cicero comes across much as he must have lived: reflective ... charming and rather vain ... Everitt does a good job of bringing Cicero and his age to life' (The Wall Street Journal)

'[Everitt makes] his subject - brilliant, vain, principled, opportunistic and courageous - come to life after two millennia' (The Washington Post)

'Gripping ... Everitt combines a classical education with practical expertise ... He writes fluidly' (New York Times)

'An exhilarating portrait of Roman social customs and politics.'

(Publishing News)

'A comprehensive and readable account of [Augustus and the Roman world]'

 

(Peter Jones, Literary Review)

'Exemplary ... this deals with the man as much as the myth and makes for an enthralling read'

(Good Book Guide)

'(An) exemplary biography'

(Guardian, Alex Butterworth)

Book Description

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Recorded Books
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1428101918
• ISBN 13: 9781428101913
• Binding: Audio CD
• Number of pages: 13