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Product Description
Book Description
Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the Bury Text, in a boxed set. Introduction by Hugh Trevor-Roper
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is Gibbon still worth reading?,
By
This review is from: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 1-3: Volumes 1, 2, 3 (Hardcover)
Most might think that an 18th Century historian would have long passed his due date, but Gibbon would prove them wrong. This edition comes with a fine introduction (Trevor-Roper) and is annotated where Gibbon may have erred, but his scholarship is usually impeccable. His fluid eloquence, depth of study, the fascinating nature of the topic, and the good price for a relatively well bound edition (printed and bound in Germany) make this purchase a very wise one. It may look good on the shelf but it stimulates even more in the reading.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The collapse of Rome and the western world explained.,
By
This review is from: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 1-3: Volumes 1, 2, 3 (Hardcover)
The quite voluminous "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" is one of the most important books of all times, and is of special interest to the reader who wants to go the extra mile in search of the reasons why the Empire collapsed after almost 1.000 years of existence. Is also a good reminder to everyone of us that, no matter what, all things pass and one world leader is followed by another in a sequence of falling cards. The book, first publishe in 1776, the same year that the "Wealth of the Nations" was published, and the same year the United States declared its independency, is one of the first serious attempts to relate history in a context of sequenced facts where social, political and cultural movements were much more important than the play of personalities. Edward Gibbon lived in Geneva many years and was familiar with the most important intelectual developments of the age, being acquainted with Voltaire and his ideas, reading and writting in many languages but mainly in French. The bibliography he consulted is extensive and, even some 15 centuries after the facts he reports, his is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative analysis of the reasons behind the fall of Rome.To begin with, he does not list how it all began, that is, it is not his purpose to narrate how the Empire was built. He begins with the Empire as a "fait accompli", with a narrative in the rule of Julius Cesar , the philosopher ruler, and analises with endless detail all the rationale of lack of in each and every ruler's mind, the background of his ascent and the reasons behind the fall of each one of them. The vast majority of Rome's ruler was killed by people who was akin or intimate to the ruler or by members of the Praetorian guard. Also, all the meanings of the empire's hierarchy is explained with a lot of detail, what was the function of a Caesar, what meant to be a senator at the time of Rome apogee, of consulship, etc... Each one of the 3 books, totalling some 2.000 pages, has a very interesting map of Europe, Africa and Asia at the time. A lot of factual information is there to astound the reader with the polyhistoric knowledge of the author. His privileged mind does not permit him to understand that not all the readers speak the languages he does and the text is full of footnotes quotations in Latin and ancient Greek, with no translation whatsoever. The portrait of the barbarians kings and people is superb and the reader has the opportunity of a face to face contact with Allaric, the king of the Goths, and with Atilla, the king of the Huns. Sure, this trilogy is only focused in the so-called West Empire and its sequel is totally devoted to the East empire, but that is another story.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Standard reading,
By ilmk "ilmk" (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 1-3: Volumes 1, 2, 3 (Hardcover)
Gibbon's Decline - whilst ancient history scholars of today will recognise the challenges in the theories which are, understandably, outdated with current knowledge of the subject - is a book that should be read not just for its subject matter but as a great exponent of historiography.Ancient History scholars - don't take it as a precise secondary source. Everyone else should a)have it on their shelves, b)have read it.
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