Roman Lives: Coriolanus/Pompey/Caesar/Cicero/Brutus/Mark Antony

by Plutarch, Nicholas Farrell (Narrator)

Though he was Greek, Plutarch wrote his Lives in the first century, a world dominated by the Roman Empire. Plutarch's series of biographies was the first of its kind, as much groundbreaking in conception as the Histories of Herodotus. Plutrach looked at the great men of the Ancient World and told their stories, in many cases drawing on sources, which are no longer available to us. They offer a unique insight into the characters as well as the achievements of men who influenced their age and the empires that their culture dominated. Here he considers some of the major figures that had left their stamp on the history of Rome, including generals, rulers, philosophers and politicians. It is the companion volume to Greeks Lives, also read with clarity and style by Nicholas Farrell.

Genres: Audiobook, History, Nonfiction, Classics

Audio CD

First published February 29, 2004

About the author

Plutarch (later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus; AD 46–AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers.

Reviews

[Xin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lives selected in this audio-book are different from those in the print edition.
The rivalry between Pompey and Caesar were presented twice, each from the protagonist's view. That Caesar died at the foot of Pompey's statue was new to me. Some of the details of the assassination were too vivid to be based on historical facts, and Plutarch must have waded into fiction writing.
But we should thank him for that, for it makes the stories more engrossing, especially when it came to the love story between Antony and Cleopatra.
On the whole, the flourishes of storytelling are not blemishes on the main story-line, because we can study themselves as paintbrushes of Plutarch.

[Kathie Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing to read and i loved the classical music with it ! such a cool piece of history

[Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very fine book for those who like ancient history. I preferred Greek Lives. I don't have an objective reason why; I just did. One aspect I did like was the chronological progression. Each story reffered to characters in the preceding story.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly self-aware collection of short biographical sketches of some of the most important figures of antiquity.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: I listened to this book and so I couldn't give it the close attention that reading allows. I think it would repay that effort. I did enjoy listening to it and the narrator - Nicholas Farrell - was very good.

To-Read: I understand Plutarch gives both a historical and a psychological perspective on the figures in his Lives. Also, I admire Plutarch's life choices - going back to his home town to serve in the government there - and hope reading him will inform my own life choices.