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Rubicon
- The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
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Dynasty
- The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows
- Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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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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So good!
- By randy hanson on 2019-10-05
Written by: Tom Holland
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Millennium
- The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 17 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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.
Written by: Tom Holland
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Pax
- War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Tom Holland
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire’s golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the world’s population. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind. Pax is a captivating narrative history of Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland shows ancient Rome in all its glory
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Enlightening
- By Anonymous User on 2023-10-23
Written by: Tom Holland
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Dominion
- How the Christian Revolution Remade the World
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Tom Holland, Mark Meadows
- Length: 22 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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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What a Story
- By Phil J on 2021-01-01
Written by: Tom Holland
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Persian Fire
- The First World Empire, Battle for the West
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In 480 BC, Xerxes, the King of Persia, led an invasion of mainland Greece. Its success should have been a formality. For 70 years, victory had seemed the birthright of the Persian Empire. In the space of a single generation, they had swept across the Near East, shattering ancient kingdoms, storming famous cities, putting together an empire which stretched from India to the shores of the Aegean. Yet somehow, astonishingly, against the largest expeditionary force ever assembled, the Greeks of the mainland managed to hold out.
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Awesome book. I love Tom Holland
- By randy hanson on 2019-10-22
Written by: Tom Holland
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Emperor of Rome
- Ruling the Ancient World
- Written by: Mary Beard
- Narrated by: Mary Beard
- Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In her international bestseller SPQR, Mary Beard told the thousand-year story of ancient Rome. Now she shines her spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BCE) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 CE). Emperor of Rome is not your usual chronological account of Roman rulers, one after another: the mad Caligula, the monster Nero, the philosopher Marcus Aurelius.
Written by: Mary Beard
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Dynasty
- The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows
- Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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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So good!
- By randy hanson on 2019-10-05
Written by: Tom Holland
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Millennium
- The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 17 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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.
Written by: Tom Holland
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Pax
- War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Tom Holland
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire’s golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the world’s population. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind. Pax is a captivating narrative history of Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland shows ancient Rome in all its glory
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Enlightening
- By Anonymous User on 2023-10-23
Written by: Tom Holland
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Dominion
- How the Christian Revolution Remade the World
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Tom Holland, Mark Meadows
- Length: 22 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
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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What a Story
- By Phil J on 2021-01-01
Written by: Tom Holland
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Persian Fire
- The First World Empire, Battle for the West
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
- Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 480 BC, Xerxes, the King of Persia, led an invasion of mainland Greece. Its success should have been a formality. For 70 years, victory had seemed the birthright of the Persian Empire. In the space of a single generation, they had swept across the Near East, shattering ancient kingdoms, storming famous cities, putting together an empire which stretched from India to the shores of the Aegean. Yet somehow, astonishingly, against the largest expeditionary force ever assembled, the Greeks of the mainland managed to hold out.
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Awesome book. I love Tom Holland
- By randy hanson on 2019-10-22
Written by: Tom Holland
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Emperor of Rome
- Ruling the Ancient World
- Written by: Mary Beard
- Narrated by: Mary Beard
- Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In her international bestseller SPQR, Mary Beard told the thousand-year story of ancient Rome. Now she shines her spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BCE) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 CE). Emperor of Rome is not your usual chronological account of Roman rulers, one after another: the mad Caligula, the monster Nero, the philosopher Marcus Aurelius.
Written by: Mary Beard
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The Storm Before the Storm
- The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic
- Written by: Mike Duncan
- Narrated by: Mike Duncan
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. After its founding in 509 BCE, the Romans refused to allow a single leader to seize control of the state and grab absolute power. The Roman commitment to cooperative government and peaceful transfers of power was unmatched in the history of the ancient world. But by the year 133 BCE, the republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled.
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Brilliant, especially for beginners like myself
- By Stefan J. Knibbe on 2018-02-13
Written by: Mike Duncan
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In the Name of Rome
- The Men Who Won the Roman Empire
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
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.
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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In the Shadow of the Sword
- The Battle for Global Empire and the End of the Ancient World
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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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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Not accurate about Christian history
- By Judy Lyoness on 2023-08-10
Written by: Tom Holland
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Rome and Persia
- The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Mark Elstob
- Length: 20 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
The Roman empire was like no other. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale. Its only true rival lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over great cities and the trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. Tracing seven centuries of conflict between Rome and Persia, historian Adrian Goldsworthy shows how these two great powers evolved together
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Another Anti Iranian Book
- By Shiva Vosoughi on 2023-09-26
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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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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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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The War That Made the Roman Empire
- Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium
- Written by: Barry Strauss
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Following Caesar’s assassination and Mark Antony’s defeat of the conspirators who killed Caesar, two powerful men remained in Rome—Antony and Caesar’s chosen heir, young Octavian, the future Augustus. When Antony fell in love with the most powerful woman in the world, Egypt’s ruler Cleopatra, and thwarted Octavian’s ambition to rule the empire, another civil war broke out. In 31 BC one of the largest naval battles in the ancient world took place—more than 600 ships, almost 200,000 men, and one woman—the Battle of Actium.
Written by: Barry Strauss
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Philip and Alexander
- Kings and Conquerors
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Neil Dickson
- Length: 20 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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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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excellent read
- By jeff olasz on 2021-06-06
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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Powers and Thrones
- A New History of the Middle Ages
- Written by: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dan Jones
- Length: 24 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
From the best-selling author of The Templars, Dan Jones' epic new history tells nothing less than the story of how the world we know today came to be built. Across 16 chapters, blending Dan Jones' trademark gripping narrative style with authoritative analysis, Powers and Thrones shows how, at each stage in this story, successive Western powers thrived by attracting - or stealing - the most valuable resources, ideas and people from the rest of the world.
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Excellent history
- By Gordon Mcghie on 2023-07-07
Written by: Dan Jones
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Persian Fire
- The First World Empire and the Battle for the West
- Written by: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Abridged
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Story
Tom Holland's brilliant new book describes the very first "clash of Empires" between East and West. Once again he has found extraordinary parallels between the ancient world and our own. There is no competing popular book describing these events.
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Misleading book
- By Farsheed on 2018-06-03
Written by: Tom Holland
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Caesar
- Life of a Colossus
- Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 24 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
Tracing the extraordinary trajectory of Julius Caesar's life, Adrian Goldsworthy covers not only the great Roman emperor's accomplishments as charismatic orator, conquering general, and powerful dictator but also lesser-known chapters. Ultimately, Goldsworthy realizes the full complexity of Caesar's character and shows why his political and military leadership continues to resonate some 2,000 years later.
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Excellent performance, timeless story.
- By Nicholas Taylor on 2018-02-26
Written by: Adrian Goldsworthy
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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Toby Wilkinson
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
In this landmark work, one of the world's most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its final absorption into the Roman Empire - 3,000 years of wild drama, bold spectacle, and unforgettable characters. Award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson captures not only the lavish pomp and artistic grandeur of this land of pyramids and pharaohs but for the first time reveals the constant propaganda and repression that were its foundations.
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Really Enoyable
- By Liri on 2018-12-15
Written by: Toby Wilkinson
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Ten Caesars
- Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine
- Written by: Barry Strauss
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
Written by: Barry Strauss
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
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
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What listeners say about Rubicon
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Bryce Wittenberg
- 2023-07-20
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.
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- 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.
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9 people found this helpful
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- 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.
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4 people found this helpful
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- 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.
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3 people found this helpful
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- 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.
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1 person found this helpful
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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!
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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.
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