How to Stop a Conspiracy: An Ancient Guide to Saving a Republic

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers

by Sallust, Josiah Osgood (Translator)

An energetic new translation of an ancient Roman masterpiece about a failed coup led by a corrupt and charismatic politician



In 63 BC, frustrated by his failure to be elected leader of the Roman Republic, the aristocrat Catiline tried to topple its elected government. Backed by corrupt elites and poor, alienated Romans, he fled Rome while his associates plotted to burn the city and murder its leading politicians. The attempted coup culminated with the unmasking of the conspirators in the Senate, a stormy debate that led to their execution, and the defeat of Catiline and his legions in battle. In How to Stop a Conspiracy, Josiah Osgood presents a brisk, modern new translation of the definitive account of these events, Sallust's The War with Catiline--a brief, powerful book that has influenced how generations of readers, including America's founders, have thought about coups and political conspiracies.

In a taut, jaw-dropping narrative, Sallust pleasurably combines juicy details about Catiline and his louche associates with highly quotable moral judgments and a wrenching description of the widespread social misery they exploited. Along the way, we get unforgettable portraits of the bitter and haunted Catiline, who was sympathetic to the plight of Romans yet willing to destroy Rome; his archenemy Cicero, who thwarts the conspiracy; and Julius Caesar, who defends the conspirators and is accused of being one of them.

Complete with an introduction that discusses how The War with Catiline has shaped and continues to shape our understanding of how republics live and die, and featuring the original Latin on facing pages, this volume makes Sallust's gripping history more accessible than ever before.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Philosophy, Classics, Audiobook, Society

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 31

About the author

Gaius Sallustius Crispus (86 BC-34 BC), better known as 'Sallust' was a Roman politician and historian who supported Populares party of Julius Caesar.

His historical works included romanticized views of events, which served as polemics against his moral opponents, including Cicero. It was a style which set him apart from the dry historians who proceeded him.

Sallust joined Caesar in the African wars, and after their victory, was placed as governor of Roman Africa. He eventually retired to private life, when he composed his histories and funded an extensive personal garden.

Reviews

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book that I have read in the Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series. This volume provides a modern translation of Sallust's The War Against Catiline which was written in the 40s BC. In this history, Sallust tells of the conspiracy to overthrow the government by a failed politician named Catiline and his supporters. The level of detail was interesting to me especially when Sallust covered a purported blood oath that Catiline did with his followers. I found Sallust's commentary interesting on how the common people of Rome were first in favor of Catiline's conspiracy but changed their tune when the details were revealed.

Overall, it is a quick read. My one issue is that there were alot of names that I felt like I had to keep up with but in the end they were not that crucial to the events that were being recounted. I enjoyed reading Josiah Osgood's translation of Sallust's work. It was accessible. He provided a good deal of context in the introduction. I especially liked when he mentioned how Sallust's work was in the minds of some of the American Founders in the early days of the American Republic.

[Matt Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read translation of Sallust’s fascinating history. A quick read, but an incredibly valuable one at the same time. I was particularly struck by the distinction between ceaser and Cato’s speeches. Looking forward to making deep, slightly obnoxious references to this work!

[Omar Khedr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book filled with a ton of ancient Roman wisdom on strength of character and iron will

[Annika Nordquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salacious! Sallust-acious…?

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, though more for the worldview that Sallust presents than for the account itself. Many of your favorite, first-century BC Romans make an appearance, and one of the more memorable parts contains speeches by Caesar and Cato, followed by Sallust comparing them:

Yet in my own time, there were two men of extraordinary excellence, though different characters: Marcus Cato and Gaius Caesar. And since they have appeared in my story, I am resolved not to pass over them in silence but to describe, to the extent of my ability, the nature and character of each.In birth, years, and eloquence they were more or less equal. In greatness of soul they were alike, and glory too—but their glory was for different things.

Throughout, Sallust highlights what—according to him—a virtuous life looks like:

To me, therefore, it seems fitter to seek glory through the power of the intellect rather than physical strength, and, since the very life which we enjoy is short, to make remembrance of ourselves last as long as possible. The fame that wealth and beauty brings is fleeting and flimsy; excellence, a glorious and everlasting possession.

In worship of the gods they were extravagant, at home frugal, and to friends faithful. By two practices—boldness in war and, when peace ensued, fairness—they cared for both themselves and the Republic.

This volume contains one of the longer introductions in the series, which I found very helpful. And the translation is very readable.

[Massimo Pigliucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another highly enjoyable entry in the Princeton University Press’s Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series. This time it’s Sallust, a Roman historian who lived from 86 to 35 BCE and who wrote an account of one of the most traumatic moments in the history of the Roman Republic, the conspiracy headed by Lucius Sergius Catilina with the aim of overthrowing the Senate and take control of Rome. The conspiracy was uncovered by the Consul in charge for the year 63 BCE, Marcus Tullius Cicero, who also happens to be one of the most influential philosophers of antiquity. Sallust tells a compelling story explaining how and why the conspiracy unfolded, and how it was discovered and neutralized. It’s a tragic story of power, greed, legitimate grievances, courage, honor, virtue, and vice. It features some of the larger-than-life individuals who lived at the time, not just Catiline and Cicero, but also the Stoic Cato the Younger and of course Julius Caesar, the very one who, less than fifteen years later, succeeded where Catiline failed. The consequence was the birth of the Roman Empire, for good and for ill. This is a tale that is not just fascinating on its own merits. It’s also cautionary for modern times, because greed for power happens to be a human constant.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up during the Yale fall sale.

Far too enjoyable, had a blast. All of the upsides of ancient history - unique characters, carved into memory like marble, yet remembered slightly differently person to person, source to source, yet dealt with entirely in absolutes. Sallust also likely the greatest narrator considering the irony of his history before becoming a historian. Guy's talking about how Caesar and Cato were the only two good men of his generation while, before writing this, he participated in indirectly ruining one and relied upon the other's dictatorial powers to pardon him from excessive corruption and extortion.

Still really good narratives and speeches written in this, the translator's introduction alone has some brain food and discussions on legacy.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really understand the reason to change a title into something else, other than in order to repackage and sell more of the product. Yes, Josiah Osgood does an excellent job translating Sallust, but it is still Sallust.

The text is not that interesting for the common modern man I would assume, and I found it mixed. There were parts, in the beginning, that I loved, when he was talking about what makes an Empire and how an empire then declines. I also liked the comparison between Ceasar and Cato. Other than that, details of the conspiracy and the persons involved were not that interesting.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

My main problem with this well translated Roman text is that the repackaging makes it seem like there's something extremely useful for the modern reader. I, for one, didn't find myself using this was a guide; more like a historic curiosity. Other than a few parallels to our time, mostly within Caitline's speech midway through, there was not much in the story that gripped me. Sallust does what a lot of Roman writers do: complain about how bad things are and get over the top with descriptions and speeches. This isn't a knock on Sallust, it's just the culture he was apart of. I do have another one of these Princeton Ancient Wisdom books; I'm hoping that one is more enlightening.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

We should never forget to study history. Without studying the past, we seem to think what happens today is new. However, this is not true. If you read this book, one would believe ancient Rome was a mirror of today's America. Conspiracies against the government are never new. The same conditions which existed in Rome are the exact the same conditions now in our country. Read this book to understand how conspiracies to overthrow our democracy are real and as citizens we should be able to read the signs.

[Alex]

is in interesting conversation with thucydides; also note placement of self(sallust) and cataline as compared to rome, at this moment for sallust, history becomes an action rather then speech in order to defend himself morally. hard to overcome a sort of bias against this text, i found it pretty dreadful and insecure.

[Federico Lucifredi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always my favorite reading in latin, with Caesar and Catullus next. His sentences are clear, his meaning is direct. The English translation is quite fine, although as someone who had to translate many of these passages in school, I do have my preferred word choices for many passages.

[Kiril Stoyanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focuses on the events of the Cataline conspiracy without offering a deep analysis.

Sallust's motives for writing this piece leave some room for interpretation (aligned with the faction of Julius Caesar).

[Jess Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good modern translation! I’m sure there was nuance lost in translation for the sake of modern readability, but I appreciated the foreword that gave context surrounding the time period and motivation for the text.

[Scott Satterwhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be very interesting, and especially towards the end. There's a lot about what you need to go to war and very practical advice, not just with actual combat, but in struggles in life.

[Clint]

This was interesting but mostly I just love Michael Page

[liz roboat · Rating 3 out of 5]

American politics are just extremely watered down (and less bloody) Ancient Roman politics—as seen in this book