Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman RepublicA vivid historical account of the social world of Rome as it moved from republic to empire. In 49 B.C., the seven hundred fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland’s enthralling account tells the story of Caesar’s generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Augustus, here are some of the most legendary figures in history brought thrillingly to life. Combining verve and freshness with scrupulous scholarship, Rubicon is not only an engrossing history of this pivotal era but a uniquely resonant portrait of a great civilization in all its extremes of self-sacrifice and rivalry, decadence and catastrophe, intrigue, war, and world-shaking ambition. |
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... tion to Roman history , it is unlikely to be bettered . " -Daily Mail " Holland brings a novelist's eye to the ancient Republic's col- lapse .... [ He ] also draws a fascinating portrait of the social life of Rome and the Republic in ...
... tion to Roman history , it is unlikely to be bettered . " -Daily Mail " Holland brings a novelist's eye to the ancient Republic's col- lapse .... [ He ] also draws a fascinating portrait of the social life of Rome and the Republic in ...
Page xv
... tion was ultimately forgotten , yet its name is remembered still . No wonder . So fateful was Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon that it has come to stand for every fateful step taken since . With it , an era of history passed away . Once ...
... tion was ultimately forgotten , yet its name is remembered still . No wonder . So fateful was Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon that it has come to stand for every fateful step taken since . With it , an era of history passed away . Once ...
Page xxi
... tion , in great deeds and remarkable accomplishments , that the ge- nius of his people had been most gloriously displayed . Accordingly , it was through narrative that this genius could best be understood . More than two millennia after ...
... tion , in great deeds and remarkable accomplishments , that the ge- nius of his people had been most gloriously displayed . Accordingly , it was through narrative that this genius could best be understood . More than two millennia after ...
Page 2
... tion that only begged further questions , for the legends told of the Sibyl were strange and puzzling . On the presumption that she had foretold the Trojan War , men debated whether she was a compound of ten prophetesses , or immortal ...
... tion that only begged further questions , for the legends told of the Sibyl were strange and puzzling . On the presumption that she had foretold the Trojan War , men debated whether she was a compound of ten prophetesses , or immortal ...
Page 14
... tion . " A contractor hurries by , all hot and sweaty , with his mules and porters , stone and timber twists on the rope of a giant crane , funeral mourners compete for space with well - built carts , there scurries a mad dog , here a ...
... tion . " A contractor hurries by , all hot and sweaty , with his mules and porters , stone and timber twists on the rope of a giant crane , funeral mourners compete for space with well - built carts , there scurries a mad dog , here a ...
Contents
1 | |
31 | |
LUCK BE A LADY | 59 |
RETURN OF THE NATIVE | 82 |
FAME IS THE SPUR | 108 |
A BANQUET OF CARRION | 150 |
THE DEBT TO PLEASURE | 179 |
TRIUMVIRATE | 212 |
THE WINGS OF ICARUS | 250 |
WORLD WAR | 297 |
THE DEATH OF THE REPUBLIC | 338 |
Timeline | 379 |
Bibliography | 392 |
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Common terms and phrases
achievements Alexandria ambitions ancient Antony Antony's appeared Appian army Asia Athens Atticus Augustus back in Rome Baiae began blood brought Brutus Caelius Caesar Campania Campus Martius career Carthage Catiline Cato Cato's Catulus celebrated century Cicero Cinna civil Cleopatra Clodius Clodius's command consul consulship course Crassus Crassus's Curio death defeat desperate despite Domitius duly East election empire enemies fellow citizens Forum Gaius Gaul gladiators glory Greece Greek head honor Hortensius Italian Italy king knew legionaries legions Lucullus Macedon magistracies magistrates Marius Marius's Mithridates murder never Octavian once Pergamum pirates Plutarch political Pompey Pompey's Posidonius proconsul proved province rebels refused remained Republic Republic's rival Roman Roman Republic Rome's Rubicon Samnites Samnium Senate House served slaves Spain status stood Strabo streets Sulla Sulla's temple theater Tigranes tion traditions tribune triumph triumvirate turned Vercingetorix victory villa Villa Publica vote wonder