THE HISTORIES

Tacitus (c. 55-120), a Roman orator and public official, "was probably the greatest historian and one of the greatest prose stylists who wrote in the Latin language." His best known work, THE HISTORIES, covers the period from the start of Galba's reign in 69 AD to the death of Domitian in 96 AD. British narrator Frederick Davidson guides the listener through sometimes overwhelming details of shifting alliances within the army, four emperors assassinated, and three civil wars. He never hesitates over the most difficult pronunciations and delivers the pithy statements of Tacitus about human nature, which are the best parts of the book, with just the right touch of irony. P.G. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]