Tacitus: Annals XIV - A Companion to the Penguin Translation (Classics Companions): "Annals" XIV - A Companion to the Penguin Translation Book

Annals 14 is the central book of Tacitus' account of the Principate of Nero. He marks it out quite clearly as the turning point of Nero's career. It starts with the murder of Nero's mother, and ends with the murder of his wife; it tells of the death of Burrus and the retirement of Seneca, and Nero's consequent release from all restraint; it contains important sections about military operations in Armenia and Britian; and it demonstrates Tacitus' presentation of themes which he considered to be important; treason trials, moral decay and the position of the Senate. It is a microcosom of Tacitean technique.The author concentrates on providing historical explanation and detail for ancient historians. She also underlines the interrelation of style and content in this work, which is the method Tacitus uses to reveal his own opinion on events by the way in which he presents them.Read More