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In the Name of Rome
- The Men Who Won the Roman Empire
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins
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Rubicon
- The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 8
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
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Story5 out of 5 stars 8
The Roman Republic was the most remarkable state in history. What began as a small community of peasants camped among marshes and hills ended up ruling the known world. Rubicon paints a vivid portrait of the Republic at the climax of its greatness - the same greatness which would herald the catastrophe of its fall. It is a story of incomparable drama.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Good Intro
- By Bryce Wittenberg on 2023-07-20
Written by: Tom Holland
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How Rome Fell
- Death of a Superpower
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 18 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 30
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 26
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
In AD 200, the Roman Empire seemed unassailable, its vast territory accounting for most of the known world. By the end of the fifth century, Roman rule had vanished in Western Europe and much of northern Africa, and only a shrunken Eastern Empire remained. This was a period of remarkable personalities, from the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius to emperors like Diocletian, who portrayed themselves as tough, even brutal, soldiers.
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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Napoleon
- A Life
- Written by: Adam Zamoyski
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 27 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 81
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 69
The story of Napoleon has been written many times. In some versions, he is a military genius, in others a war-obsessed tyrant. Here, historian Adam Zamoyski cuts through the mythology and explains Napoleon against the background of the European Enlightenment and what he was himself seeking to achieve. This most famous of men is also the most hidden of men, and Zamoyski dives deeper than any previous biographer to find him. Beautifully written, Napoleon brilliantly sets the man in his European context.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great narration. Historically biased writing.
- By Quadratic on 2019-06-10
Written by: Adam Zamoyski
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Iron Kingdom
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- Written by: Christopher Clark
- Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
- Length: 28 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 56
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 46
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In the aftermath of World War II, Prussia - a centuries-old state pivotal to Europe's development - ceased to exist. In their eagerness to erase all traces of the Third Reich from the earth, the Allies believed that Prussia, the very embodiment of German militarism, had to be abolished. But as Christopher Clark reveals in this pioneering history, Prussia's legacy is far more complex.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Infuriating narrator can't say German names
- By Chris Shannon on 2018-12-12
Written by: Christopher Clark
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Augustus
- First Emperor of Rome
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 82
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 74
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 74
Caesar Augustus's story, one of the most riveting in western history, is filled with drama and contradiction, risky gambles and unexpected success. He began as a teenage warlord, whose only claim to power was as the heir of the murdered Julius Caesar. Mark Antony dubbed him "a boy who owes everything to a name," but in the years to come the youth outmaneuvered all the older and more experienced politicians and was the last man standing in 30 BC.
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5 out of 5 stars
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excellent book and excellent perfomace
- By John MacLachlan on 2021-05-07
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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The Fall of Carthage
- The Punic Wars 265-146BC
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 53
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 45
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 45
The struggle between Rome and Carthage in the Punic Wars was arguably the greatest and most desperate conflict of antiquity. The forces involved and the casualties suffered by both sides were far greater than in any wars fought before the modern era, while the eventual outcome had far-reaching consequences for the history of the Western World, namely the ascendancy of Rome. An epic of war and battle, this is also the story of famous generals and leaders: Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, Scipio Africanus, and his grandson Scipio Aemilianus, who would finally bring down the walls of Carthage.
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3 out of 5 stars
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It's a basic outline of the 3 Punic wars
- By Duy B. on 2019-03-20
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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Rubicon
- The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 8
The Roman Republic was the most remarkable state in history. What began as a small community of peasants camped among marshes and hills ended up ruling the known world. Rubicon paints a vivid portrait of the Republic at the climax of its greatness - the same greatness which would herald the catastrophe of its fall. It is a story of incomparable drama.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good Intro
- By Bryce Wittenberg on 2023-07-20
Written by: Tom Holland
-
How Rome Fell
- Death of a Superpower
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 18 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
In AD 200, the Roman Empire seemed unassailable, its vast territory accounting for most of the known world. By the end of the fifth century, Roman rule had vanished in Western Europe and much of northern Africa, and only a shrunken Eastern Empire remained. This was a period of remarkable personalities, from the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius to emperors like Diocletian, who portrayed themselves as tough, even brutal, soldiers.
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
-
Napoleon
- A Life
- Written by: Adam Zamoyski
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 27 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 69
The story of Napoleon has been written many times. In some versions, he is a military genius, in others a war-obsessed tyrant. Here, historian Adam Zamoyski cuts through the mythology and explains Napoleon against the background of the European Enlightenment and what he was himself seeking to achieve. This most famous of men is also the most hidden of men, and Zamoyski dives deeper than any previous biographer to find him. Beautifully written, Napoleon brilliantly sets the man in his European context.
-
4 out of 5 stars
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Great narration. Historically biased writing.
- By Quadratic on 2019-06-10
Written by: Adam Zamoyski
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Iron Kingdom
- The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947
- Written by: Christopher Clark
- Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
- Length: 28 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 56
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 46
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Story4 out of 5 stars 46
In the aftermath of World War II, Prussia - a centuries-old state pivotal to Europe's development - ceased to exist. In their eagerness to erase all traces of the Third Reich from the earth, the Allies believed that Prussia, the very embodiment of German militarism, had to be abolished. But as Christopher Clark reveals in this pioneering history, Prussia's legacy is far more complex.
-
5 out of 5 stars
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Infuriating narrator can't say German names
- By Chris Shannon on 2018-12-12
Written by: Christopher Clark
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Augustus
- First Emperor of Rome
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 82
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 74
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 74
Caesar Augustus's story, one of the most riveting in western history, is filled with drama and contradiction, risky gambles and unexpected success. He began as a teenage warlord, whose only claim to power was as the heir of the murdered Julius Caesar. Mark Antony dubbed him "a boy who owes everything to a name," but in the years to come the youth outmaneuvered all the older and more experienced politicians and was the last man standing in 30 BC.
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5 out of 5 stars
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excellent book and excellent perfomace
- By John MacLachlan on 2021-05-07
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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The Fall of Carthage
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- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 53
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 45
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 45
The struggle between Rome and Carthage in the Punic Wars was arguably the greatest and most desperate conflict of antiquity. The forces involved and the casualties suffered by both sides were far greater than in any wars fought before the modern era, while the eventual outcome had far-reaching consequences for the history of the Western World, namely the ascendancy of Rome. An epic of war and battle, this is also the story of famous generals and leaders: Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, Scipio Africanus, and his grandson Scipio Aemilianus, who would finally bring down the walls of Carthage.
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3 out of 5 stars
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It's a basic outline of the 3 Punic wars
- By Duy B. on 2019-03-20
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Ten Caesars
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
Best-selling classical historian Barry Strauss tells the story of three-and-a-half centuries of the Roman Empire through the lives of 10 of the most important emperors, from Augustus to Constantine.
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Dynasty
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Dynasty tells the story of Rome's first dynasty of emperors, from its establishment by Augustus Caesar in the last decades of the first century BC to its final, florid extinction less than a century later. The line of autocrats known to historians as the 'Julio-Claudians' remains to this day a byword for depravity. The brilliance of its allure and the blood-steeped shadows cast by its crimes still haunt the public imagination.
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5 out of 5 stars
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So good!
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The Napoleonic Wars
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The Napoleonic Wars saw fighting on an unprecedented scale in Europe and the Americas. It took the wealth of the British Empire, combined with the might of the continental armies, almost two decades to bring down one of the world's greatest military leaders and the empire that he had created. Napoleon's ultimate defeat was to determine the history of Europe for almost 100 years. From the frozen wastelands of Russia, through the brutal fighting in the Peninsula to the blood-soaked battlefield of Waterloo, this book tells the story of the dramatic rise and fall of the Napoleonic Empire.
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5 out of 5 stars
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informative and broad.
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Philip and Alexander
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This definitive biography of one of history's most influential father-son duos tells the story of two rulers who gripped the world - and their rise and fall from power.
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5 out of 5 stars
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excellent read
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Stalin
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This thrilling biography of Stalin and his entourage during the terrifying decades of his supreme power transforms our understanding of Stalin as Soviet dictator, Marxist leader and Russian tsar. Based on groundbreaking research, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals in captivating detail the fear and betrayal, privilege and debauchery, family life and murderous cruelty of this secret world. Written with extraordinary narrative verve, this magnificent feat of scholarly research has become a classic of modern history writing.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Chilling, informative, incredibly gripping
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Millennium
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Millennium is a stunning panoramic account of the two centuries on either side of the apocalyptic year 1000. This was the age of Canute, William the Conqueror and Pope Gregory VII, of Vikings, monks and serfs, of the earliest castles and the invention of knighthood, and of the primal conflict between church and state. The story of how the distinctive culture of Europe - restless, creative and dynamic - was forged from out of the convulsions of these extraordinary times is as fascinating and as momentous as any in history.
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In the 6th century AD, the Near East was divided between two venerable empires: the Persian and the Roman. A hundred years on and one had vanished forever, while the other seemed almost finished. Ruling in their place were the Arabs: an upheaval so profound that it spelt, in effect, the end of the ancient world. In The Shadow of the Sword, Tom Holland explores how this came about.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Not accurate about Christian history
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 3
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3
Emerging as a market town from a cluster of hill villages in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., Rome grew to become the ancient world's preeminent power. Everitt fashions the story of Rome's rise to glory into an erudite book filled with lasting lessons for our time. He chronicles the clash between patricians and plebeians that defined the politics of the Republic. He shows how Rome's shrewd strategy of offering citizenship to her defeated subjects was instrumental in expanding the reach of her burgeoning empire.
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 88
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Crucifixion, the Romans believed, was the worst fate imaginable, a punishment reserved for slaves. How astonishing it was, then, that people should have come to believe that one particular victim of crucifixion - an obscure provincial by the name of Jesus - was to be worshipped as a god. Dominion explores the implications of this shocking conviction as they have reverberated throughout history.
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5 out of 5 stars
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What a Story
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Augustus
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Caesar Augustus has been called history's greatest emperor. It was said he found Rome made of clay and left it made of marble. With a senator for a father and Julius Caesar for a great-uncle, he ascended the ranks of Roman society with breathtaking speed. His courage in battle is still questioned yet his political savvy was second to none. He had a lifelong rival in Mark Antony and a 51-year companion in his wife, Livia. And his influence extended perhaps further than that of any ruler who has ever lived.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it. Augustus the OG
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The Iliad & The Odyssey
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 12
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Little is known about the Ancient Greek oral poet Homer, the supposed 8th century BC author of the world-read Iliad and his later masterpiece, The Odyssey. These classic epics provided the basis for Greek education and culture throughout the classical age and formed the backbone of humane education through the birth of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great classic to revisit in audio format
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Napoleon the Great
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- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 114
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 99
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Story5 out of 5 stars 99
Napoleon Bonaparte lived one of the most extraordinary of all human lives. In the space of just 20 years, from October 1795, when as a young artillery captain he cleared the streets of Paris of insurrectionists, to his final defeat at the (horribly mismanaged) battle of Waterloo in June 1815, Napoleon transformed France and Europe. After seizing power in a coup d'état, he ended the corruption and incompetence into which the revolution had descended.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Bad pronunciations
- By Amazon User on 2018-06-23
Written by: Andrew Roberts
Publisher's Summary
Adrian Goldsworthy has received wide acclaim for his exceptional writing on the Roman Empire - including high praise from the acclaimed military historian and author John Keegan - and here he offers a new perspective on the empire by focusing on its greatest generals, including Scipio Africanus, Marius, Pompey, Caesar, and Titus. Each chapter paints a fascinating portrait of a single general, offering in-depth insight into his leadership skills and victories as well as each one's pioneering strategies, many of which are still used today. In the process this absorbing, accessible history tells the complete story of Roman warfare, from the bitter struggle with Carthage in the third century BC to the last desperate attempt to win back the Western Empire in the sixth century AD.
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What listeners love about In the Name of Rome
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- JLB
- 2017-04-11
This pie was all crust, no filling
What disappointed you about In the Name of Rome?
The author starts the book with a lengthy disclaimer describing the scarcity of sources and reliable information for the individuals and periods he discusses and his reluctance to make assumptions or put weight on modern analysis of them. I would describe my knowledge of Roman history as a little more in-depth than the average random person, by no means an expert.
My chief complaint about this book is that it offered no analysis or new thought about these individuals or events. It felt like a rote recital of basic information that is covered in many other books. With only a little bit of exaggeration, I would describe his coverage of the events as more a summary of the facts. Given the lack of new thought or perspective on the subject, I am unsure what the author's goal was in writing this book.
I fully acknowledge that he states very clearly at the beginning of the book that sources and reliable information are scarce and notes that he will not wander off into questionable analysis. But I was still expecting to learn something new and interesting, or at least get the author's viewpoint on these events.
Has In the Name of Rome turned you off from other books in this genre?
No, I read and enjoyed Goldsworthy's books on Caesar, Augustus, and Cicero. Based on my experience reading these three books, I would definitely try another book from him.
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20 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gerry
- 2016-04-28
Great series of analyses of Roman Generalship
I found this to be very well narrated, informative and very entertaining. Goldsworthy builds a picture of how generalship, command, the army itself, and the relationships between commanders, subordinates, soldiers and ultimate civil authorities evolved from the republic through the imperial period. Inevitably, because of the paucity of sources there are large gaps but he paints as fair and balanced picture of each commander as is possible. This is definitely a recommended book if you are interested in learning more about the essential elements of the Roman philosophy of command.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Matthew Kilheeney
- 2016-03-16
Informative yet cluttered in this format.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would reccomend this book only if a friend had an interest in the subject matter. This book is dense, dry, and to the point. However, like all of Goldsworthy's work, it is very intensive and gripping.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Julius Ceasar. The histories of the Gallic Wars and the Civil War are gripping.
Any additional comments?
Not his best, but still great. Its easy to lose track of the narrative due to the pacing and lack of visual aid. There are comprehensive details on formations, tactics, and the charisma of Roman Generals. If you are looking for details on the intrigue and politics following each campaign and general, this book will leave you dissatisfied. Comprehensive and detailed focus on Generalship, Armies, and Battles, with little else.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ryan Kuhn
- 2016-05-30
Great Overview
For a book to cover so many different campaigns, it does an excellent job explaining necessary details and pulling the reader in to understand them.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Connor Dalton
- 2021-03-04
Fantastic Work
As always, Derek Perkins does an incredible performance on this similarly incredible work by Adrian Goldsworthy. My favorite combination in the world of historical audiobooks will always be these two.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DrBCFR
- 2019-06-09
Great Military History
Sometimes I find military history audiobooks to be challenging listens. For some reason, while listening to these books, I find it difficult to picture battle lines and strategic maneuvers and visualize the size of forces and other features of battles. I don't know if that is just me, or if this is a problem others have as well. I find reading military histories is preferable to listening to them.
However, "In the Name of Rome" is definitely an exception. I found the text lucid and enjoyable. Adrian Goldsworthy is one of my favorite authors, and this book is now one of my favorite on Ancient Rome. The scope of the book is sweeping, encompassing something like 500+ years of Roman military conquests, but it did an excellent job of drawing connections and conclusions. The evolution of the Roman army and its tactics are traced in a straightforward and coherent narrative.
The narration is excellent, of course. Derek Perkins has such a warm, comforting, and engaging voice.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Shawnbo
- 2016-08-15
sound history, but lacking
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I'm perplexed at the choice of "Julian the apostate" as one of the primary generals in the book. The author explains his choice by wanting to explain the great difference in the state of the empire and the army at the time. He aptly covers Julian's career: From his able execution of his duties in Gaul, to his disastrous Persian campaign. While "Constantine the Great" is given but a few lines. This is baffling since Constantine achieved what Alexander the Great's Generals never could: that is, completely reuniting a vastly divided empire and making it into a semblance of it's former greatness. Edward Gibbon credits Constantine's choice of the new capital to providing the great longevity of the Eastern part of the empire. Perhaps personal ideology played a part in the author's omission. But to omit a highly skilled general who defeated several independent "Ceasars" to reunite a divided Roman empire seems to be without excuse. Constantine certainly warrants mention in a thorough history of Roman Generals.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 2016-04-05
Solid Overview of Roman Military History
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend it to a friend with a serious interest in Roman History.
What about Derek Perkins’s performance did you like?
It is excellent. He does a great job pronouncing Latin names correctly.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Not applicable to a book of this kind.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael
- 2023-06-12
GREAT OVERVIEW
Adrian Goldsworthy has yet to let me down. I've always found him informative and entertaining. This is a survey of Roman Warfare with an emphasis on the individual commander. People do make a difference. At least I think so. Therefore, I loved the book. Derek Perkins, as always gives, a masterful performance. The last couple of chapters give a sense, whether intended or not, of Rome's impending downfall. My opinion, I'm not sure Adrian agrees , is there is a great deal of Rome still in us. Therefore to understand ourselves at least in the United States and Western Europe we have to understand Rome. If not overly familiar with Roman history this may be a good place to start. If familiar this is a nice overview My opinion a 5 star book with a 5 star performance.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris B.
- 2023-05-11
Fascinating
One way to look at this book is as a series of mini biographies of famous Roman generals, which it succeeds at. But another way is as an overall arc of Roman circumstances and challenges from Republic to antiquity from the perspective of the army. Details around how the army, political life, internal affairs, and foreign threats all changed are fascinating. The late empire had a much different character than the more famous Principate era, with small armies, unruly troops, and tactics around fortified cities and forts. The chapters on Julian the Apostate and Belisarius especially highlight these changes.
It would have been nice to hear more about the Crisis of the Third Century, but sources from that era are apparently poor.
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