Roman history cover

Roman history

by Cassius Dio Cocceianus

Brings to life for us the unrest and conspiracies, the struggle over the imperial succession, the prodigies and portents, the military campaigns all the way from Ethiopia to Yugoslavia. The author shows us the ruthless power-seeking as the 400-year-old republic finally collapsed and makes a great set-piece of the battle of Actium -- where Augustus defeated Antony and Cleopatra to become master of the world. He also inserts fictionalized speeches into his narrative, which offer his own profound political reflections or dramatize the many different attitudes to the emperor. The fascinating debate between the great general Agrippa and Maecenas (the patron of Horace and Virgil) on the merits of republicanism and monarchy confronts issues which are still very much alive today.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?