The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Vol 3 (Penguin Classics) Book

Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire compresses thirteen turbulent centuries into an epic narrative shot through with insight, irony and incisive character analysis. Sceptical about Christianity, sympathetic to the barbarian invaders and the Byzantine Empire, constantly aware of how political leaders often achieve the exact opposite of what they intend, Gibbon was both alert to the broad pattern of events and significant revealing details.

EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND APPENDICES BY DAVID WOMERSLEY Although it covers no less than thirteen centuries of history, writes David Womersley, Gibbon's Decline and Fall 'is never routine, always alert with humanity and intelligence, often surprising in its sympathies'.

Gibbon's ''The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'' (the second and third volumes were originally published in 1781), is one of the most famous texts in the English language. David Womersley's annotated edition returns to manuscript an