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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Approachable biography of one of the most important figures in western history. The book, being relatively short, is dense but very informative. Beside Augustus itself, Everitt brings to life many historical figures that had an influence on the emperor (both past and contemporary) and are essential to understand the political situation at the time. This approach contributes to a true 360 degrees view of the main character.
It is important to stress that this is a non-fiction book, heavy on the details of political manoeuvres and the geography and strategies of military campaigns, sometimes down to a blow by blow account of battles (first half of the book), and is not equally detailed on the aspects of Augustus’ personal life. Chapter 20 contains a vivid and engaging account of a day in Augustus and Livia’s times, however readers looking for a romanticised version of the emperor life, for instance, his infatuation with Livia, the alleged numerous extramarital affairs, the turbulent relationship with his daughter Julia or the private struggle with Mark Antony and Cleopatra may be disappointed.
Everitt names and provides excerpts from the primary sources; this is done in a casual and unobtrusive manner so to not distract the reader from the narrative flow, while providing evidence to statements and corroboration to his theories. The Julio-Claudian dynasty tree, geographical maps at the beginning as well as the comprehensive primary sources references and bibliography at the end of the book are welcome useful inclusions. Recommended to readers interested in Roman history.
Favourite quotes:
If Julius Caesar had lived he would probably have devised a far more radical scheme, imposing a brutally abrupt transition from a republican past to an imperial future. Augustus may have been less brilliant than his adoptive father, but he was wiser. He understood that if his new system was to last, it should be seen to grow out of what came before. Rather than insist on a chasm, he built a bridge.
Romans distinguished between imperium, power, and auctoritas, authority. It was evidence of the remarkable success of the Augustan system that the princeps was able to command obedience simply through his authority, and was very seldom obliged to draw on the brute power at his disposal.
Perhaps the most instructive aspect of Augustus’ approach to politics was his twin recognition that in the long run power was unsustainable without consent, and that consent could best be won by associating radical constitutional change with a traditional and moralizing ideology.
It is important to stress that this is a non-fiction book, heavy on the details of political manoeuvres and the geography and strategies of military campaigns, sometimes down to a blow by blow account of battles (first half of the book), and is not equally detailed on the aspects of Augustus’ personal life. Chapter 20 contains a vivid and engaging account of a day in Augustus and Livia’s times, however readers looking for a romanticised version of the emperor life, for instance, his infatuation with Livia, the alleged numerous extramarital affairs, the turbulent relationship with his daughter Julia or the private struggle with Mark Antony and Cleopatra may be disappointed.
Everitt names and provides excerpts from the primary sources; this is done in a casual and unobtrusive manner so to not distract the reader from the narrative flow, while providing evidence to statements and corroboration to his theories. The Julio-Claudian dynasty tree, geographical maps at the beginning as well as the comprehensive primary sources references and bibliography at the end of the book are welcome useful inclusions. Recommended to readers interested in Roman history.
Favourite quotes:
If Julius Caesar had lived he would probably have devised a far more radical scheme, imposing a brutally abrupt transition from a republican past to an imperial future. Augustus may have been less brilliant than his adoptive father, but he was wiser. He understood that if his new system was to last, it should be seen to grow out of what came before. Rather than insist on a chasm, he built a bridge.
Romans distinguished between imperium, power, and auctoritas, authority. It was evidence of the remarkable success of the Augustan system that the princeps was able to command obedience simply through his authority, and was very seldom obliged to draw on the brute power at his disposal.
Perhaps the most instructive aspect of Augustus’ approach to politics was his twin recognition that in the long run power was unsustainable without consent, and that consent could best be won by associating radical constitutional change with a traditional and moralizing ideology.
I'm guilty of being only mildly interested in this book and yet still I listened...a danger of audio. It was good for all that, but I can't say I was ever really caught up in it. In summary, Augustus was conniving, a cold-blooded mass killer, unforgiving, a 2nd-rate general at best but he knew how to use his generals, a political mastermind who understood power and timing even as a teenager, unique in his ability to completely and successfully remake the Roman the government (to be an monarchy instead of a Republic) and was very very patient.
This was a fantastic biography. Everitt draws from all the classical sources and puts together an gripping narrative of Augustus's life and the myriad surrounding events. The story flows smoothly and a good balance is struck between necessary details and larger events. The major figures of the period are all examined from both a political and a personal perspective as well as the surviving records allow and how their motivations shaped history comes together in a coherent chronicle of the earliest years of the Roman empire. Augustus's dedication to holding the empire together as well as securing his own power is impressive and the tale is well told.
A good look at the one man who was crucial in the transition from Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.
I read this book for an Ancient Roman history class in college. I liked it, and I'd recommend it for those interested in the late-Republic/early-Empire period of Roman history.
A little dry, perhaps, but all-in-all an astonishing achievement. I feel like I knew the mysterious Augustus, despite the fact that he died almost 2000 years ago and only fragmented accounts of his life story are extant. This book reads as if piecing those fragments together was Everitt's life's work.
Anthony Everitt is a solid narrative historian. He writes a readable history of the life of Rome's first emperor without embellishing. And this book leaves the reader with a knotty moral conundrum at the end -- if a man destroys republicanism in Rome itself, but in the process makes the citizens of the wider empire more enfranchised than ever before, what do we make of his reign in the final analysis?
The most gripping part of the book is the first chapter. Its evocation of the last few days of Augustus' life is good narrative woven with solid historical research. Unfortunately, that is the last time you will see that sort of writing. From then on the prose is exceptionally dry and loses its hard focus on Augustus. Everitt's use of source material and analysis is brilliant but his own prose is just too dull. Part of this might not be his fault.
Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus
Divine Son of Caesar Supreme Commander Augustus
It sounds magnificent but looks may be deceiving.
Augustus was an inferior military general to his adoptive father Julius Caesar, his best friend Marcus Agrippa and his one-time partner and eventual rival Marc Antony. He was an inferior writer and poet to contemporaries like Horace and Virgil, an inferior speaker to many of his fellow senators, and we can only imagine he was also an inferior historian to those of the day (but we won't know because no source material remains). We also know in the health stakes he had seemingly worse health than almost every other Roman citizen alive. Despite a promising rise through the ranks at a young age, Augustus then appeared to stumble his way to greatness with his talent for survival and choosing competent supporters.
He had one other talent which seems to be his greatest.
Politics.
It seems that Augustus was the greatest politician of his age and possibly even the both millennia he lived in. His ability to maintain absolute power while living in a "democratic republic" puts modern despots to shame.
From what Everitt is saying Augustus had something modern dictators don't. He understood his weaknesses and this allowed him to be such a political success. He knew when he needed help and he's not afraid to ask for it or in many cases command it.
This book does a great job of exposing Augustus' austere and frugal manner while simultaneously lifting the curtain on what seems to be his voracious and insatiable sexual appetite. Yet in doing this it sticks to the former in tone. It has a wide scope and we spend a lot of time with other personalities from Roman history, while this gives us an expansive view it often comes at the detriment of narrative flow and sometimes you find the book feeling more like a general Roman History book than one about Augustus. As mentioned before in some ways this echoes Augustus' own desire to let others show their strengths as long as it's in aid of his own agenda.
An interesting read but I now turn to John Williams novel in search of a more gripping narrative about this enigmatic ruler.
Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus
Divine Son of Caesar Supreme Commander Augustus
It sounds magnificent but looks may be deceiving.
Augustus was an inferior military general to his adoptive father Julius Caesar, his best friend Marcus Agrippa and his one-time partner and eventual rival Marc Antony. He was an inferior writer and poet to contemporaries like Horace and Virgil, an inferior speaker to many of his fellow senators, and we can only imagine he was also an inferior historian to those of the day (but we won't know because no source material remains). We also know in the health stakes he had seemingly worse health than almost every other Roman citizen alive. Despite a promising rise through the ranks at a young age, Augustus then appeared to stumble his way to greatness with his talent for survival and choosing competent supporters.
He had one other talent which seems to be his greatest.
Politics.
It seems that Augustus was the greatest politician of his age and possibly even the both millennia he lived in. His ability to maintain absolute power while living in a "democratic republic" puts modern despots to shame.
From what Everitt is saying Augustus had something modern dictators don't. He understood his weaknesses and this allowed him to be such a political success. He knew when he needed help and he's not afraid to ask for it or in many cases command it.
This book does a great job of exposing Augustus' austere and frugal manner while simultaneously lifting the curtain on what seems to be his voracious and insatiable sexual appetite. Yet in doing this it sticks to the former in tone. It has a wide scope and we spend a lot of time with other personalities from Roman history, while this gives us an expansive view it often comes at the detriment of narrative flow and sometimes you find the book feeling more like a general Roman History book than one about Augustus. As mentioned before in some ways this echoes Augustus' own desire to let others show their strengths as long as it's in aid of his own agenda.
An interesting read but I now turn to John Williams novel in search of a more gripping narrative about this enigmatic ruler.