Listen free for 30 days

  • 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
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Rubicon cover art

Rubicon

Written by: Tom Holland
Narrated by: Mark Meadows,Tom Holland
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.06

Buy Now for $30.06

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

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. This was the century of Julius Caesar, the gambler whose addiction to glory led him to the banks of the Rubicon, and beyond; of Cicero, whose defence of freedom would make him a byword for eloquence; of Spartacus, the slave who dared to challenge a superpower; of Cleopatra, the queen who did the same.

Tom Holland brings to life this strange and unsettling civilization, with its extremes of ambition and self-sacrifice, bloodshed and desire. Yet alien as it was, the Republic still holds up a mirror to us. Its citizens were obsessed by celebrity chefs, all-night dancing and exotic pets; they fought elections in law courts and were addicted to spin; they toppled foreign tyrants in the name of self-defence. Two thousand years may have passed, but we remain the Romans' heirs.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2004 SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2003 HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS

©2003 Tom Holland (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What the critics say

'The Book that really held me, in fact, obsessed me, was Rubicon . . . This is narrative history at its best. Bloody and labyrinthine political intrigue and struggle, brilliant oratory, amazing feats of conquest and cruelty' Ian McEwan, Books of the Year, Guardian

'Re-evaluating Rome for a new generation' Robert Harris, Sunday Times

'Marvellously readable' Niall Ferguson

What listeners say about Rubicon

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Intro

A very fine introduction to the Late Republic. Gives a good feeling for the central cast of figures and the prose is always entertaining and often hilarious. Some points are skimmed over and some minor errors are made but I would still reccomend this to anybody looking to dive into the most fascinating period of Roman history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Richard Sweeny
  • Richard Sweeny
  • 2022-12-16

If you’re looking for a history book, this isn’t it.

If you’re looking for a history book, this isn’t it.

I am a big fan of the Roman Republic. I was hoping for a book with more detailed information.

So, I was very disappointed when I realized what this really was. It’s color. It fills in emotional gaps, but if you don’t already know the history of Rome, it’s lots of colorful, almost poetic frills.

But for me, it actually worked out well. It turns out I knew more names, dates, locations and key turning points than I realized.

So for me, the performance settled into a pleasant stroll through the last 100 years of the Republic.

As I’m writing this, I honestly can’t remember exactly what was covered in the book, because I already knew all of the facts. Did he cover Marius and Sulla?

He must have. It was too critical not to be here. Yes. I’m sure he opened up with that.

But if you like sports announcers, two of the best were football’s Pat Summerall and John Madden.

I was looking for Pat Summerall, the great play-by-play man. But it was John Madden who showed up in this book.

Just the facts? Nope, the color man showed up to give all the background. The stuff that burned in the hearts of the Roman Citizen.

This was a worthwhile use of my time. If you don’t know the factual history of Rome, this is definitely a great book to read, or in my case listen to.

But you’ll be much better served if you leave this on the shelf. Go read a couple of books on the deep history of Rome. Then come back to this fill in the emotional gaps. It’s a nice journey to take.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tyler
  • Tyler
  • 2022-08-26

Narrative

This is not history, it’s a story with a historical setting. Holland synthesizes the arguments of many historians and essentially writes a story of the events leading to the end of the Republic. Well written and entertaining, just don’t expect it to be a history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2021-01-08

A well written narrative history

Tom Holland knows how to make ancient history come to life. Excellent narration by Mark Meadows, as usual.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jacques
  • Jacques
  • 2022-03-27

Excellent in every way

Tom Holland weaves a fascinating and passionate account of all the hosts of characters involved in the fall of the Republic.

It took a bit of time getting used to the narrator. But eventually it was quite good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tim Markley
  • Tim Markley
  • 2023-10-23

Great listen!

Enjoyed the book and the style of writing. There is little new here, but it is a great introduction to the time and the people.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mustafa Al-mosawi
  • Mustafa Al-mosawi
  • 2023-10-09

Evocative and epic

Tom Holland tells the story of Roman Republic from the over throw of its last king to the final convulsions that result in its end. Particular focus on the epoch of the great civil wars.

With lovely vignettes showcasing the life of its elites and their excesses it also can be used reflect on the life in the West.

Well told, in narrative tone, the history is as much novel as it is history. In some details where more academic histories may go into details on alternative theories or question the historical record as told by the Romans, Tom usually references the ‘official’ record as provided by historical sources without questioning them, and minimal speculation where needed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-09-18

Phenomenal as always

Tom Holland’s novels are always written so that they are enjoyable and also very informative. Can’t give enough praise. Plus it’s Rome!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for ItalianVersace
  • ItalianVersace
  • 2023-09-13

Great History and storytelling

I intend to listen to this again, and again great information about the history of Rome and its Republic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Robert Surbrug
  • Robert Surbrug
  • 2023-09-02

Beautifully written and narrated

This book reads like a novel and the narrator was superb. Historically, the book includes some insightful analysis but might rely a little too uncritically on the written histories from Ancient Rome, which contemporary scholars weigh more cautiously. For example, I was disappointed that the author included the version where Cleopatra commits suicide by the bite of an asp (snake), which is beautifully poetic but now considered unlikely as such a death would have been long (and to avoid being captured alive by Octavian time was of the essence).
I suspect the author left out caveats to maintain the beautifully flowing narrative (and the actual book might include footnotes where such questions of the accuracy of sources can be discussed).
All that said, this book really brought history to life and was a delight to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Grimjack
  • Grimjack
  • 2023-07-28

Good overview

I found this filled in gaps that I missed in history classes in both high school and at university. An enjoyable listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!