The Cambridge Companion to Tacitus

Accessible introduction to the work and influence of ancient Rome's greatest writer of history.

A. J. Woodman (Edited by)

9780521874601, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 January 2010

386 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.3 cm, 0.74 kg

"...the volume is both one among Tony Woodman's great services to Tacitean studies and a tribute to them." --BMCR

Tacitus is universally recognised as ancient Rome's greatest writer of history, and his account of the Roman Empire in the first century AD has been fundamental in shaping the modern perception of Rome and its emperors. This Companion provides a new, up-to-date and authoritative assessment of his work and influence which will be invaluable for students and non-specialists as well as of interest to established scholars in the field. First situating Tacitus within the tradition of Roman historical writing and his own contemporary society, it goes on to analyse each of his individual works and then discuss key topics such as his distinctive authorial voice and his views of history and freedom. It ends by tracing Tacitus' reception, beginning with the transition from manuscript to printed editions, describing his influence on political thought in early modern Europe, and concluding with his significance in the twentieth century.

Introduction A. J. Woodman
Contexts: 1. From the Annalists to the Annales: Latin historiography before Tacitus A. M. Gowing
2. Tacitus and the contemporary scene A. J. Woodman
Texts: 3. The Agricola A. R. Birley
4. The Germania as literary text Richard F. Thomas
5. The faces of eloquence: the Dialogus de Oratoribus Sander M. Goldberg
6. Fission and fusion: shifting Roman identities in the Histories Rhiannon Ash
7. The Tiberian Hexad Christina Shuttleworth Kraus
8. Hamlet without the Prince? The Claudian Annals S. J. V. Malloch
9. 'Is dying so very terrible?': the Neronian Annals E. E. Keitel
Topics: 10. Tacitus' personal voice Christopher Pelling
11. Tacitus as a historian Miriam T. Griffin
12. Res Olim Dissociabiles: emperors, senators, and liberty S. P. Oakley
13. Style and language S. P. Oakley
14. Speeches in the Histories D. S. Levene
15. Warfare in the Annals D. S. Levene
Transmission: 16. From manuscript to print R. H. Martin
17. Tacitus and political thought in early modern Europe, c.1530–c.1640 Alexandra Gajda
18. Gibbon and Tacitus Paul Cartledge
19. A dangerous book: the reception of the Germania C. B. Krebs
20. Tacitus and the twentieth-century novel Martha Malamud
21. Tacitus' Syme Mark Toher
Chronological table.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]