Description

For your consideration: 1982 Franklin Library Hardcover Leatherette edition of THE ANNALS OF TACITUS translated by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb with etchings by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. This book is in beautiful condition with tight binding and appears completely unread. Also includes an original unused nameplate as seen in images. Be sure to check out our other listings this week for a number of Franklin Library volumes in amazing condition. We offer combined shipping with USPS Media Mail. ENJOY! The Franklin Library was a division of The Franklin Mint that produced fine collector edition leather bound books over three decades ending in the year 2000. For this reason all Franklin Library editions are now considered "out of print" and are no longer available for sale from the Franklin Mint. All Franklin Library Editions exhibit: • High quality paper. • Pages that are sewn not glued into the binding. • Gold gilded page edges on all three sides. • Raised spine bands that give each book that distinctive antique look. Tacitus [Gaius Cornelius Tacitus]; translated by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb. The Annals of Tacitus. Franklin Center, Franklin Library, 1982. Hardbound, 9.25 inches tall, 374 pages. Decorated endpapers. Illustrated with the etchings of Giovanni Battista Piranesi. This is from the Franklin Library series, The Greatest Books of the World's Greatest Writers. (Also known as The Collector's Library of The World's Great Books.) From a series in semi-uniform bindings -- the volumes vary in size and color, but all are in leatherette binding, with raised spine bands, all edges gilt, and extensive gilt or silver decorations on front, back, and spine. With clarity and vivid intensity, Tacitus's Annals recounts the pivotal events in Roman history from the years shortly before the death of Augustus to the death of Nero in 68 AD, including the reign of terror under the corrupt Tiberius, the great fire of Rome during the time of Nero, and the wars, poisonings, scandals, conspiracies, and murders that were part of imperial life. Despite Tacitus's claim that they were written objectively, the Annals is sharply critical of the emperors' excesses and fearful for the future of imperial Rome, while also filled with a longing for its past glories. Ancient Roman senator and historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus is known throughout Western history as one of the greatest historical writers of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He lived during the first century AD and was the son of a wealthy aristocratic family. Not much is known about his personal life; however, it is clear that both Tacitus and Pliny the Elder were acquaintances and even possibly childhood friends, though there is no substantial evidence to support this. Tacitus studied rhetoric in order to create a career in law and politics. He steadily rose throughout the ranks due to his strong speaking style and oration skills. However, his language skills did not stop with verbal speeches. He was also an accomplished writer who focused on the history of the Roman Empire. He created five works, "The Annals," "The Histories," "The Agricola," "The Germania," and "A Dialogue on Oratory." His works delve deep into the facts as he knew them, rarely ever embellishing history to create a story. He also stayed true to chronological order and laid history out in visible steps. It is also notable that Tacitus knew that his fellow politicians were corrupt; he believed that they gave up their strong voice in order to please a usually corrupt emperor.