History of Rome

2010 | History & Politics

The classical scholar and historian Theodor Mommsen (1817–1903) published his monumental History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902 Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment critiques, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, Mommsen began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, employing modern terms to render classical ideas, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. This English translation of his History appeared in five volumes between 1862 and 1866. In this reissue, the final volume also contains the index to the entire work, originally published separately in 1875, nine years after the translation itself was completed.

Theodor Mommsen (Author)