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The Failure of Augustus

From £35.99

The Failure of Augustus

Essays on the Interpretation of a Paradox

By: E.A. Judge

From £35.99

Though he had a proud and clear aim, in the end, Augustus was defeated by his own persistence. Using contemporaneous sources and Augustus’ own words, Judge’s study explores this downfall. It also argues for the primacy of original sources in historical interpretation.

Augustus did not mean to become the “Founder of the Roman Empire”. We only say this to make sense of what happened later. At the…

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Author: E.A. Judge ISBN: 1-5275-2592-9 Categories: Social Sciences, Literature, Literature, History

Augustus did not mean to become the “Founder of the Roman Empire”. We only say this to make sense of what happened later. At the time, there were indeed suspicions. However, Augustus plugged on with his propaganda, with a proud and clear aim in mind. In the end, though, his own persistence defeated him.

In all history, we must first find out what was true at the time. This book focuses always on the particular words of Augustus, and how his mind could be read from them. It is not concerned with any contemporary focus of research in Augustan studies, but offers, rather, a sustained argument over the primacy of the original sources in any historical interpretation. Behind that lies the question of truth itself in any history.

E.A. Judge is Emeritus Professor of History at Macquarie University, Sydney. A Classics graduate from New Zealand and Cambridge, he was Sir James Knott Fellow in Ancient History at King’s College, Newcastle upon Tyne, before moving to Sydney in 1956. As editor and educationist, he has fostered the extensive study of Ancient History at both secondary and tertiary levels in New South Wales. For services to education, he has been appointed by the crown as a Member of the Order of Australia and elected as an honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Hardback

ISBN: 1-5275-2592-9
ISBN13: 978-1-5275-2592-4
Date of Publication: 2019-02-19

Paperback

ISBN: 1-5275-7021-5
ISBN13: 978-1-5275-7021-4
Date of Publication: 2021-06-15

Ebook

ISBN: 1-5275-2934-7
ISBN13: 978-1-5275-2934-2
Date of Publication: 2021-06-15

Categories: Social Sciences, Literature, Literature, History

Pages: 405

Subject Codes:

BIC: DSB, HB
BISAC: HIS002020, HIS016000, HIS049000, HIS002000, PHI002000, PHI036000
THEMA: DSB, NH

Pages: 405

“If the title ‘The Failure of Augustus’ comes as a shock, that is an indication of how much we still have to learn from Edwin Judge—the scholar who got Augustus right.”
- G.D. Rowe, Department of Greek and Roman Studies, University of Victoria, Canada
“Unorthodox, vivid, deeply learned but often amusing, Judge’s lifelong engagement with and critique of Augustus is a monument of Antipodean scholarship.”
- Christopher Smith, School of Classics, University of St Andrews, UK
“This provocative book challenges us to rethink what many people believe we know about Roman politics during the age of Augustus and beyond. It encourages us to abandon casual use of terms such as Republic and Empire, reign and succession. Alongside its fundamental reassessment of Augustus’ political aspirations and achievements, it does nothing less than stimulate reflection on how to write ancient history for modern audiences.”
- Alison E. Cooley, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Warwick, UK; Editor, Res gestae divi Augusti (2009)
“This is a volume of unparalleled riches on Augustus. Edwin Judge, one of the most meticulous of scholars and inspiring of teachers, has spent a lifetime investigating and teaching this subject. If you thought you knew the meaning of terms such as ‘res publica’ or ‘imperium’, you need to read this book.”
- R.T. Ridley, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Melbourne, Australia

Meet The Author

E.A. Judge

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