The Roman History: The Reign of Augustus (Penguin Classics)

A full account of the reign of Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome

After decades of savage civil war, Augustus Caesar (27 BC–AD 14) brought peace and prosperity to his city. This selection from Cassius Dio's Roman History gives an in-depth description of that long struggle and ultimate triumph—detailing the brutal battles and political feuds that led to the collapse of Rome's 400-year-old republic, and Augustus' subsequent reign as emperor. Included are accounts of military campaigns from Ethiopia to Yugoslavia, and of long conflict with Antony and Cleopatra. With skill and artistry, Dio brings to life many speeches from the era—among them Augustus' damning indictment of Antony's passion for the Egyptian queen—and provides a fascinating account of the debate between the great general Agrippa and Maecenas on the virtues of republicanism and monarchy.

Ian Scott-Kilvert's translation captures the profound and eloquent style of the original, while John Carter's introduction outlines Dio's own political view of the emperor as an essential rule for the Roman world. This edition also contains extensive footnotes, maps and a detailed index.

Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

John Carter retired from a Senior Lectureship at Royal Holloway college, University of London, in 1992. He collaborated with Ian Scott-Kilvert on Cassius Dio's The Roman History (1987) for Penguin Classics, and other published work includes a history of Augustus' rise to power, The Battle of Actium (1970), and editions of Suetonius' life of Augustus, Divis Augustus (1982), and of Julius Caesar's own account of his war with Pompey, Civil War (2 vols., 1991 and 1993).