Download The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius Julian Jovianus Valentinian and Valens Classic Reprint Ammianus Marcellinus 9780266456513 Books

Product details Hardcover 694 pages Publisher Forgotten Books (January 26, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 0266456510

The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus During the Reigns of the Emperors Constantius Julian Jovianus Valentinian and Valens Classic Reprint Ammianus Marcellinus 9780266456513 Books Reviews

• Ammianus Marcellinus ranks as one of the leading Roman historians. While he does not posses the literary style of some other historians, he is generally an impartial chronicler. His account of the search for order after the death of Constantine is remarkable--and the version which has the Yonge translation is excellent. It flows and is not the jumbled mess that so many free versions of the classics are.
  
  Half of the book deals with the rise of Julian the Apostate and how Constantius II attempted to deal with that legendary figure and his older brother. After Julian's reign, Ammianus looks at some of the other men who wore the purple in the fourth century and usually leaves solid impressions. Ammianus is excellent in guiding the reader around the Roman world but those unfamiliar with history might be a little lost as he moves the action from the West to the frontier to the East and then over to Africa. There are many conflicts here--barbarians and other powers against the Empire, Christians versus pagans and various civil wars and would be emperors. If a reader is not familiar with events, they would be advised to take notes to lessen the confusion.
  
  But even readers not familiar with Rome will profit from reading this book.This is a work of an empire in decline over a short period. The work starts with a unified Roman world under Constantius II and ends with the disastrous Roman defeat at Adrianople where Valens was killed. There are lessons and warnings here to be sure. Highly recommended.
• This translation captures the author, Marcellinus, just talking about what had been going on as the Roman state devolved. Compared to the Loeb Classical version, this is a comfortable version.
• Try 'Champion of the Gods' if you want to read an excellent version of Julian's life.
• Great Buy!
• Found this history fascinating. Written by a man who was sometimes there and always seemed to be interested in what and why things happened. It was a very human story, some of which could be taking place today. The translation and notes are very good. Edward Gibbon was said to have valued the accuracy of the history. Recommend it highly to anyone interested in the history of the Empire during the last couple hundred years.