Tacitus: Agricola

Description

The first work of any great historian has always commanded attention, and Tacitus was ancient Rome's very greatest historian. His biography of his father-in-law, governor of Britain in the years AD 77-84, is a literary masterpiece: it combines penetrating political history with gripping military narrative and throughout poses the question (still very much alive today) of how one should live one's life under a tyranny. This is the first commentary in English on the Agricola for almost half a century: in keeping with the aims of the series, particular attention is paid to the understanding of Tacitus' Latin, but a whole range of generic, historical, textual and narrative topics is covered, and it will be suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students as well as scholars. Tacitus' Agricola remains a key text for anyone with an interest in Roman Britain as well as ancient biography.

A. J. Woodman is Basil L. Gildersleeve Professor of Classics, University of Virginia. C. S. Kraus is Thomas A. Thacher Professor of Latin, Yale University.

'Its novel insights should help readers long familiar with the Agricola to read it afresh. It should also make it much easier to introduce students to this wonderful text. The Agricola offers an ideal first taste of Roman historical writing - short enough to be read in its entirety, but still possessing much of the complexity and depth of Tacitus's later, longer works.' Myles Lavan, Histos 'Woodman has certainly given us food for thought; indeed, a feast of new possibilities for Tacitean scholars to digest.' Duncan B. Campbell, Bryn Mawr Classical Review