Nevertheless, he presents enough historical reporting to make this interesting to people who want to learn about the major events of the lives of these men. The twelve caesars by suetonius and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk. Book i julius caesar a new freely downloadable translation. The twelve caesars, and i thought it was about time i read the book. The lives of the twelve 12 caesars modern library books series an unexpurgated english edited with notes and an introduction by joseph gavorse gaius suetonius tranquillus published by published by. An essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship. A masterpiece of observation, anecdote and detailed physical description, the twelve caesars presents us with a gallery of vividly drawnand all too humanindividuals. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Suetonius wrote his lives of the twelve caesars in the reign of vespasian around 70ad. Gaius suetonius tranquillus was born around that fateful year of 69 ce. The lives of the twelve caesars, suetonius book limited. The work, probably written around 121ad in the reign of hadrian, therefore covers the crucial and highly eventful period of roman history from the end of the republic to the reign of domitian.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 363 pages and is available in paperback format. The main characters of this history, classics story are nero, caligula. Suetonius the twelve caesars if a friend asked me to tell him if it is worth it to read suetonius book the twelve caesars, i would say it is. Although suetoniuss history reports the events of the lives of the first twelve caesars, at times, it reads like people magazine. Suetonius, in holding up a mirror to those caesars of diverting legend, reflects not only them but ourselves. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus nook.
The twelve caesars is probably the most in depth book ever written about the personal lives of the twelve caesars. An essential primary source on roman history and a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire as private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the. The lives of the twelve 12 caesars modern library books series an unexpurgated english edited with notes and an introduction by joseph gavorse gaius suetonius tranquillus published by published by the modern library, new york first thus edition. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the. Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the twelve caesars, to which are added his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. Of the former of these, which is addressed to cicero, three books at the beginning are also lost. Suetonius the twelve caesars 1126 words 123 help me. This collection, apparently entitled caesares, does not survive, but it was a source for a later biographical collection, known as historia augusta, which now forms a kind of sequel to suetonius work.
The lives of the twelve caesars by suetonius books on. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained a. He chronicled the extraordinary careers of julius, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, vespasian, and. The book provides valuable information on the heritage, personal habits, physical appearance, lives, and political careers of the first roman emperors as it mentions details which other sources. Lives of the twelve caesars audiobook by suetonius. Each emperor is dissected, and his actions beyond politics and professionalism revealed.
The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius. This site has an archive of more than one thousand interviews, or five thousand book. It appears from the introduction of the fourth book, that they all. An essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. As with many of his contemporaries, suetonius took omens. The twelve caesars by suetonius and translated by robert graves.
Suetonius was a close friend of senator and letterwriter pliny the younger. In the table of contents below, all the books are shown on blue backgrounds. Dec 31, 2002 as private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. The twelve caesars, often titled lives of the caesars in english, is a collection of 12 biographies covering julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire in historical order.
Suetonius goes to great lengths to reveal the way these men really were, as human beings. This book is entertaining and covers a lot of ground in a relatively short volume. This book, though old, is still very interesting and informative today. To which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. Lvii his physical skills and powers of endurance book one. The biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first citizens. Oct 19, 20 the twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. His penmanship begins with julius caesar and ends with domitian. The lives of the twelve caesars online library of liberty.
The twelve caesars served as a model for the biographies of 2nd and early 3rdcentury emperors compiled by marius maximus. Book iii tiberius a new freely downloadable translation. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius was hadrians personal secretary. The paperback of the the twelve caesars by suetonius at barnes. The twelve caesars, suetonius 9780140455168 boeken. Pliny describes him as quiet and studious, a man dedicated to writing. An english translation, augmented with the biographies of contemporary statesmen, orators, poets, and other associates. Suetonius provides a cogent illustration of the lives of twelve roman emperors from julius caesar to domitian by painting a vivid picture of the civic activities and licentious personal conduct of these twelve caesars.
The twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome. Suetonius sure had a bad case of superstition even for ancient rome. The twelve caesars book ancient history encyclopedia. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus nook book. Free download or read online the twelve caesars pdf epub book. Buy the twelve caesars by suetonius, robert graves from waterstones today. This penguin classic of the twelve caesars by suetonius is the perfect place to start for anybody interested in ancient grecoroman history and culture. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful.
The twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian. The twelve caesars by suetonius penguin books australia. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Pliny helped him buy a small property and interceded with the emperor trajan to grant suetonius immunities usually granted to a father of three, the ius trium liberorum, because his marriage was. Dec 18, 2007 the twelve caesars by suetonius, 9780140455168, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. An essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while.
This book, though old, is still very interesting and informative. The first edition of the novel was published in 119, and was written by suetonius. An able biographer, suetonius demonstrates his literary competence by authoring a text that both casual readers will find. Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. The twelve caesars by suetonius, 9780140455168, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In this book you can learn about the early empire, the laws and traditions if thats what you want. He chronicled the extraordinary careers of julius, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, vespasian, and domitian and the rest in technicolour terms. Senatorial commanders of provincial armies took to the battlefields to decide the issue of succession. Pdf the twelve caesars book by suetonius free download 363. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns of such emperors as tiberius, caligula, and nero.
Nov 18, 2014 buy the twelve caesars by suetonius isbn. The twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends. The lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius. Not only is this a most engaging translation by robert graves, author of i claudius, but there is a short forward by classics scholar, michael grant. Gaius suetonius tranquillus c75 c160 ad the twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. The twelve caesars the twelve caesars is a gripping account of the lives of men who shaped the early roman empire, and a catalog of the corrupting influence of power on rome and its leaders. The work is mostly complete, although it appears the beginning of the biography of julius. The twelve caesars by suetonius, robert graves waterstones. The patrician branch of the claudians there being a plebeian branch too, no less influential and distinguished was originally from regillum, a sabine.
During the book on nero, suetonius does mention christians see historicity of jesus. Pdf the twelve caesars book by suetonius free download. Suetonius had several works of note, but what concerns history chiefly is his biographies of imperial personalities, usually called the twelve caesars. It was then that the julioclaudian dynasty finally collapsed without a direct heir. An essential primary source on roman history and a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire as private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the scholar suetonius had access to the imperial archives and used them along with eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. The twelve caesars is, along with tacituss histories and the annals and cassius dios history of rome, one of the earliest sources that has a narrative covering political events in the roman empire from about the midfirst century bce to 96 ce, which covers the fall of the roman republic through to the end of romes second imperial dynasty, the flavians. Suetonius provides a cogent illustration of the lives of twelve roman emperors from julius caesar to domitian by painting a vivid picture of the civic activities and licentious personal conduct of. Nov 10, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by. It is important to note however, that the writing style of suetonius day was much different from our own. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. Complete editions and translations gaius suetonius tranquillus, the twelve caesars, tr. Roman scholar and official, bestknown as the author of the lives of the twelve caesars.