Product Description

In this, the only biography of Trajan available in English, Julian Bennett tests Trajan's reputation as the embodiment of all imperial virtues.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #507435 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
'This book is certainly a valuable addition to the burgeoning collection of imperial biographies.' - David Shotter, Classical Review

From the Back Cover
Did Trajan really deserve his reputation as the embodiment of all imperial virtues? Why did Dante, writing in the Middle Ages, place him in the sixth sphere of Heaven among the Just and Temperate rulers?
In this, the only biography of Trajan available in English, Julian Bennett rigorously tests the substance of this glorious reputation. Surprisingly, for a Roman emperor, Trajan comes through the test with his reputation relatively intact.

Customer Reviews

An academic book and the only true biography of Trajan
Do not expect this book to be bed-side reading unless you are seriously interested in Roman imperial history and/or the life of Trajan. Its an excellent academic book - well researched and referenced. All aspects of Trajan's life are covered (with the one comment that I found it hard to piece together his early youth and was left to hypothesize myself). The style of writing is excellent and the content solidly detailed. A few good figures/plates support the text, although there is room for improvement in terms of figures that could detail the complex Dacian and Parthian campaigns in terms of schematic route lines etc.
Postscript and notes to the second edition present a critic from experts who have commented on the text.
On some specific points, the Dacia campaign is well covered, although I find some aspects difficult to equate to Trajan's column. The Parthian campaign is well managed.
To summarize, this is "the" biography of Trajan's life, but expect a solid acaedmic approach with expert opinion.

Rare finding
This book follows the general pattern of a biography within context. With a broad introduction to the times of the Optimus Princeps, and specializing at times to allow the general reader a glimpse of the universe the Spanish Emperor faced while still Domitian's general and then Nerva's heir, the book combines military and political events with the reforms Trajan did and which have earned him the famous title. Although not easy as a first reading on the principate, it allows one to enter this fascinating world, and at the same time, makes you feel uneasy knowing that this period is so badly served by the extant sources. Nevertheless, a must for all those who love the Roman Empire.

Detailed beyond readability
I am particularly keen on this period of Roman history so I was keen to read this book. Unfortunately, it is written like a detailed academic text which is often hard to follow and in some places simply confusing. Julian Bennett is an excellent historian but this book is best left on the dusty shelves of some university. The final insult, is that the final third of the book is the list of references!