A Tacitus Reader: Selections from Agricola, Germania, Dialogus, Historiae and Annales (Bc Latin Readers)

by Steven H. Rutledge

This edition s selected passages from Tacitus historical and minor works give a sample of a Latin author acknowledged as one of the most difficult and also the most rewarding. Rutledge presents a Tacitus he unapologetically terms the greatest of the Roman historians in reading selections that highlight major subjects and the corruption of power, confrontation with barbarians, and narratives of historically significant episodes, many marked by the era s signature violence, promiscuity, and murderous death. Tacitus stylistic brilliance likewise finds its due his powerful language, vivid character portrayal, use of speeches, and the authority he claims for himself as historian. The commentary addresses problems Tacitean syntax and grammar may pose for readers new to the author, and helps to situate Tacitus among other Roman historians. Special Introduction to Tacitus works, style, and place in Roman historiography; 609 lines of unadapted Latin text in 24 selections from 5 Agricola 2.1 3.2; 30.1 5; Germania 1.1, 2.1 2; 37.2 5; Dialogus 1.1 3; 2.1 2; Historiae 1.15, 1.16; 1.41, 1.49; 3.82 83; Annales 1.1; 1.9 10; 1.74; 2.69; 4.1 2, 4.3; 6.1; 6.50 51; 11.24; 11.29 30; 11.31 32; 11.37 38; 14.4 6; 14.8; 15.38; 15.44; Notes at the back and complete vocabulary Suggested reading; genealogical charts; Two maps and five illustrations

Genres: History

248 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2013

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very like the Sallust Reader that was used in my Latin class as well, I read this one as a part of the same class. Overall its a very good textbook, with lots of notes on how to read the original Latin text that were helpful. I did, however, prefer the work of Sallust, and found the notes in that textbook to be more helpful.