Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Softcover

Edward Gibbon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0701107138 ISBN 13: 9780701107130

Publisher: Chatto and Windus Ltd., 1960

Synopsis

It is oft heard these days about the decline of our Western values, pointing to the work of an eighteenth century aristocrat and his seminal volumes (six or eight, depending on versions), entitled "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Edward Gibbon's first volume was published about the time the Thirteen Colonies succeeded from the British Empire, and represented a magnificent insight into an ancient empire that still influences our culture today. Yet how many of today's alleged interpreters have read the whole set? I have tried to read mine but I was first introduced to this beautifully rendered English classic through the D.M.Low abridgment which this review is really about. By reducing Gibbon's 6 or 8 volume work to ~900 pp., he has made 'The Decline' more accessible to those interested in a very important book on social, political and historical roots of our civilization. As this book can be had for mere dollars there is little excuse not to read it. Maybe you noticed the title to this review and wondered if it is a misprint. No. Before the Roman Empire there was a Roman Republic which fell by the forces that came with the expansion and conquest of its neighbors, making a few extremely wealthy while the old protections collapsed for the majority of its aristocracy. A recommended read for those truly interested in government rule and citizen rights. (Amazon customer)

About this title

About the Author:

EDWARD GIBBON was born in 1737. His brief career as an undergraduate at Magdalen College, Oxford, ended when he joined the Catholic Church, but he later re-joined the Protestant Church. After the death of his father, Gibbon settled in London and in 1774 was elected to Parliament where he sat for the next eight years. The first volume of his famous HISTORY was published in 1776; it was highly praised for its learning and style but incurred some censure for its treatment of the early Christians. The second and third volumes appeared in 1781 and the final three were published in 1788. HUGH TREVOR-ROPER was born in Northumberland in 1914 and educated at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford. He was Regius Professor of Modern History and Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford 1957-80; Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge 1980-87. He became Lord Dacre of Glanton in 1979. Hugh Trevor-Roper died in 2003.

Review:

"[Gibbon] stood on the summit of the Renaissance achievement and looked back over the waste of history to ancient Rome, as from one mountain top to another."--Christopher Dawson

"From the Trade Paperback edition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chatto and Windus Ltd.
• Publication date: 1960
• ISBN 10: 0701107138
• ISBN 13: 9780701107130
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 924
• Editor: D.M. Low