"The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbon - Book Review

Summary

"Edward Gibbon's six-volume History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88) is among the most magnificent and ambitious narratives in European literature. Its subject is the fate of one of the world's greatest civilizations over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars and society, and the events that led to its disastrous collapse. Here, in volumes three and four, Gibbon vividly recounts the waves of barbarian invaders under commanders such as Alaric and Attila, who overran and eventually destroyed the West. He then turns his gaze to events in the East, where even the achievements of the Byzantine emperor Justinian and the campaigns of the brilliant military leader Belisarius could not conceal the fundamental weaknesses of their empire.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."

Review

The history of the Roman Empire and its grandiosity has eluded people and attracted curiosity for ages. I count myself among them, but tackling Gibbon's massive work would be a daunting task, so I opted for the abridged version instead. I am not a history reader by default, so maybe I am not used to the language and structure of this kind of text; I thoroughly respect Gibbon's necessary and magnificent work, but, unfortunately, the reading was not enjoyable. I expected a cohesive narrative that would clearly outline the fall of the empire, and although the book presents numerous reasons for this decline, the writing felt disjointed, like an amalgamation of random facts with a confusing timeline filled with many jumps. I was able to grasp interesting pieces of trivia and some key points, like the rise of Christianity, but the overall sensation was that I finished the book without being able to pinpoint exactly the reasons for the decline of the empire from a macro perspective. Maybe I was just not the correct type of reader for this book. Nevertheless, it is a magnificent piece of historical literature and certainly deserves its acclaim.

Key Takeaways

  • Grandiose piece of historical literature
  • Philosophical when necessary about the abrasive nature of time
  • Even the most magnificent creations of mankind ultimately perish due to our vices and historical circumstances

Who Should Read This

Readers interested in a comprehensive overview of the Roman Empire's gradual decline and the integration of philosophy into historical analysis.

Favourite Quotes

"Trajan was ambitious of fame; and as long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors, the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters."

"The ideal restraints of the senate and the laws might serve to display the virtues, but could never correct the vices of the emperor."

Rating

⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 stars)

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