The Real Story of Rome: 15 History Books by Roman Authors

The Real Story of Rome is a compelling anthology that encapsulates the breadth and depth of Roman historiography. The works in this edition were not written by modern historians separated by millenniums from the intrigues in Roman forum and the field of battles with strange tribes and ruthless barbarians. These works were all written by the citizens of the empire – by generals who knew all too well the smell of blood on the battlefield and sense of adrenalin of a triumph held in their honor; by the politicians who knew all intricacies of manipulation and deception and walked the fine line between conspiracy and loyalty; by administrators who knew personally the emperors whose characters they were describing; and by the scientists and philosophers who wanted to enrich their compatriots with wisdom and true knowledge of the world.

These are invaluable works, based on prime sources and reports on current events. They are the books who ignited our never-ending fascination with this ancient civilization – their customs, their culture and their convictions. The Roman way of thinking represents the most sensible and calculated part of us, as well as the most ruthless and ambitious part of us.

The collection includes:

The History of Rome (Livy)

The Annals (Tacitus)

The Histories (Tacitus)

The Germany & Agricola (Cornelius Tacitus)

The Roman History (Ammianus Marcellinus)

The Twelve Caesars (Suetonius)

Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (Plutarch)

The Histories of Polybius (Polybius)

The History of the Conspiracy of Catiline & The Jurgurthine War (Sallust)

The Civil War (Julius Caesar)

The Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

The Antiquities of the Jews & The War of the Jews (Flavius Josephus)

The Geography of Strabo (Strabo)