The Caesars

Thomas De QuinceyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 423K words
Chapters: 43

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Caesars by Thomas De QuinceyAuthor: De Quincey, Thomas, 1785-1859,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 1, 2004

Editor's review

This is Thomas De Quincey's essayistic historical commentary on several early Roman emperors, a public-domain work of English literature and historical criticism. De Quincey handles historical figures in the manner of an essayist, with personal judgments and literary rhetoric rather than academic scholarship, so it reads more like character studies than a chronicle. Its value lies in showing how a nineteenth-century English man of letters understood the shifts of Roman power, and how literary narrative intertwines with historical fact. The Project Gutenberg edition is an English electronic text, suitable as reading material in the original language. It is best read as historical essays rather than an introductory textbook on Roman history; readers may compare it with public-domain translations of primary sources such as Tacitus and Suetonius to distinguish fact from the author's embellishment. For those studying De Quincey's prose style or the nineteenth-century English reception of classical antiquity, this book offers a valuable sample.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early Roman imperial history who can read English
Those studying De Quincey's prose and the nineteenth-century English reception of classical antiquity
Readers of English-language originals who prefer historical essays to systematic general histories
Literature enthusiasts seeking classical-themed writing through public-domain ebooks

Not a good fit for

Beginners needing a systematic Roman history textbook or chronological overview
Readers who struggle with English and would prefer a Chinese translation
Professional researchers expecting rigorous scholarly annotation and source criticism

Reading tips

Learn the basic facts of the Caesarean era first, so as not to mistake the author's commentary for fact
Keep a public-domain text of Tacitus or Suetonius at hand to distinguish sources from literary embellishment
Read by figure, and after each section note the author's core judgments and their basis
Read it as prose, attending to De Quincey's rhetoric and tone rather than hunting only for historical conclusions

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book an introductory work on Roman history?

No. It is closer to De Quincey's essayistic character studies of historical figures, with personal judgments and literary rhetoric, and does not aim to present Roman history systematically. Without basic historical background, readers may mistake the author's views for fact; it is advisable to build a foundation first.

Why is this edition in English?

This edition comes from Project Gutenberg, which provides a public-domain English electronic text. It preserves the original English, suiting readers able to read the original; those who need Chinese should look for a translation or companion materials.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

It helps to have a basic understanding of the power shifts from the late Roman Republic to the early Empire and to know roughly where figures such as Caesar and Augustus stand. Only then can readers of De Quincey's commentary tell what is supported by sources from what is the author's own elaboration.

Can it be cited as research material?

It can be cited as evidence of how nineteenth-century English men of letters received classical history, but not as a primary source or rigorous scholarship. For specific historical facts, ancient primary sources and modern research should remain authoritative.

Comments

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About the author

Thomas De Quincey Author · British · 1785–1859

Thomas De Quincey (1785–1859) was an English essayist and literary critic, born into a merchant family in Manchester and a former student at Oxford who left without taking a degree. He is best known for Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, a work that blends personal experience with dreamlike imagination, distinguished by ornate prose rich in fantasy and musicality. His writings range widely, encompassing autobiography, biographical essays and historical narrative, as seen in The English Mail-Coach and Joan of Arc, Revolt of the Tartars and several volumes of essays and collected papers. Twenty-one of his works are held in this collection, a testament to the breadth of his output. As one of the important critics of the English Romantic movement, his essays have influenced later essay writing and the confessional mode.