Augustus

The first Emperor of Rome holds a perennial fascination for anyone with an interest in the Romans and their Empire. Augustus was a truly remarkable man who brought peace after many years of civil wars and laid the foundations of an Empire that lasted for nearly five centuries. Even today the Roman world still underpins modern society. This revised edition of Augustus incorporates new thinking on many aspects of his rule, and how he achieved such power. The image that he projected of himself and his achievements was benign, hopeful, and heroic, but behind this carefully orchestrated self-promotion he was subtle, clever, scheming and ruthless. He has been labelled as a saviour and as a mafia boss. This account of his life shows how he successfully combined the two extremes.

'In the second edition of her masterly biography (1st ed., CH, Mar'99, 36-4048), Southern examines the discreet, ruthless, and shrewd steps by which this cautious revolutionary reached his goal. Art, literature, and religion were all tools that he used to construct his public persona. Summing Up: Recommended.' - CHOICE

Patricia Southern is an expert on the history of Classical Rome, and has written extensively on the subject, with titles including The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine (2001), Domitian: Tragic Tyrant (1997) and The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History (2007).