 "Excellent Audio Book for History Buffs" | 2008-05-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A19DRMRKKKQ7JI |
| What a classic. This is an excellent listen for history buffs and those that want to learn what precipitated the fall of the great empire. |
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 "Lots of Info" | 2007-07-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: AK9K1FUWDIAQY |
| Tremendous amount of information and lots of historical data. Problem is the guy who wrote the book can speak the real english language and I often thought I was listning to a foreign language tape. I learned a lot and woud recomend this to anyone who wonders how something as great as the empire was, fell apart. Great learning experience. |
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| "Gibbon's Magnum Opus" | 2007-05-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: AK1UQWML2COIH |
It's a literary work of art. Gibbon's style of narration is breathtaking. On every page he comes out as the true scholar that he really is. His choice of words and his style of sentence construction is consummate on every level.
Other than that, the whole account is Gibbon's perspective of the Roman Empire on a strict level. While most will concur with him on the insanity of the likes of say, Caligula, Nero; or the politically cunning inclinations of Augustus, his treatment of Christianity is open to debate. Gibbon places Christianity at the top in his list of the factors that could possibly have accelerated the empire towards decadence and its ultimate disintegration. Though this can be true on some accounts, he offers no clear explanation on how the Eastern empire could have carried on for more centuries with the religion at its very centre. It's an unwritten edict that the Byzantines were more passionate about Jesus than Western christendom.
Also, in some pages, Gibbon argues that the Roman emperors, say Marcus Aurelius for example, never really would have had an inclination towards persecuting christians on grounds of political gains. For Gibbon argues that the political elite of Rome were well aware of the fact that some kind of religion maintained social order. But his arguments are at considerable, if not complete, loggerheads with the several accounts from other historians that Rome continued to persecute Christianity until Constantine.
Persecution of Christianity might necessarily not have completely been primary disdain for the christian concept which totally conflicts with the Roman edicts of deifying dead emperors. Christianity came in handy for rogue emperors to have this sect of minorities scapegoated for their own excesses (remember Nero's fire?) or to appease the minds of a disgruntled majority which preferred to suspect them.
Finally, his stand that the "whole" empire prospered and preferred Roman rule in the age of the five good emperors is open to debate. Pax Romana might have worked for the Italian mainland at best, but not necessarily in provinces even as close as, say, Gaul. |
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 "Gibbons Decline and fall of Rome" | 2007-03-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: AK2HSFOM5OJZP |
This is the definitive History of the Empire from the first emperor (Agustus or Octavian, if you wish). However given the time and hence style of English, it was written in it is not for the faint hearted. Stick with it though and it is a very rewarding reference book which you will have for life.
One thing I fail to understand is what Amazon sells Vols 1-3 and 4-6 as seperate items. By the lot in one go otherwise it's a bit like owning the old testement bible and not having set eyes on the New Testement.!! |
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| "Dramatic and Informative audio book version" | 2007-03-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2C4TN4P4SHTXJ |
| Philip Madoc convincingly relates Gibbon's great insights into the history and significance of the final centuries of the Roman Empire in this 6 CD set. Abridged by neccesity, nevertheless Neville Jason comments between Gibbon's passage recited by Philip Madoc, and fills the gaps with a coherent narration. The whole production flows smoothly and dramatically, quite easy to follow. This is one of the most worthwhile audio book puchases I've ever made. |
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| "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" | 2007-02-21 |
| - Reviewed By martindsloan |
| This treatise on the fall of the Greatest(at least most documented) Empire prior to the 19th century is an exciting rollercoaster of thrills and chills. Though, your vocabulary needs a warm up. Once you're up to speed the story really moves right along. I think for straight history this compendium of work is the greatest story ever written. This work tells it like it was and how we got to this point at least up to shortly after the discovery of the new world without too much prejudice of religion and politics involved. Most of this work was derived straight from the Vatican Library it is said. Gibbon's mastery of the language actually exceeds many of those who followed him, those being the Durants and Delbruck. I believe that Edward's work far exceeds these later works in style and entertainment though the Durants cover the rest of the world as well and Delbruck covers up to modern warfare neither succeed in telling the story like it was an adventure worthy of an action hero. |
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| "No analysis? Are you reading the same thing" | 2007-01-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: ANTCG23JH7H1L |
| this book is incredible (the other reviewers do a good job explaining this) but it IS full of analysis. gibbon maintains that christianity caused the fall of the empire because it was superstitious and not worthy enough of an empire that needed the endless vigilance of a relentless soldiering class--something the pacifist christians of the time were decidedly against. this is gibbon's most famous analysis and although many think it is false, that hardly detracts from the book's worth. this is a must read but read a little at a time people! |
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| "A Comprehensive Historical Work" | 2006-08-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2TQAH6CZ8O3XF |
| Gibbon's "Decline and Fall" is without a doubt one of the most well-written and truly comprehensive historical works concerning the Roman Empire. From the military maneuvers of the northern legions to the intrigues of the Imperial Court, Gibbon showcases the history of Rome as it unfolded--often relying on the eyewitness testimony of contemporary writers to give readers a sense of the passions and policies of the time. There are a few minute problems--or rather gaps--in Gibbon's work, but given that he originally published in the late 1700's we can excuse his lack of complete information. Overall, an excellent read and a great history of such an important subject. |
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| "The Best and Most Comprehensive Roman/Late Roman/Early Byzantine History in the English Language" | 2006-01-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1DTPRX72UBBXD |
| A must own for any Late Roman historian. A must read for anyone attempting to determine the roots of European culture in subsequent centuries. I rarely read any book or set of books more than once and I've read this one six times. The best. |
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| "The Everyman's edition, volumes 1, 2, & 3 (boxed) of 6" | 2005-05-16 |
| - Reviewed By vincentpoiriertokyo |
This is the best edition available of Gibbon's history.
+ It has all of Gibbon's footnotes;
+ it is packaged in an attractive boxed set;
+ it's hard bound in good plain cloth, not snobby leather;
+ it's printed on fine paper;
+ it can be expected to last into the next century;
+ it leaves enough white margin for writing notes;
+ it has an index;
+ it even smells good.
Caveat
- It gives no translation of the better Latin and Greek passages;
- the black paste used to print the cover's gold-on-black logo flakes off;
- don't forget to order the other half (volumes 4, 5, and 6).
(The only other edition worth considering is the unabridged paperback Penguin edition. It also contains the full notes, and it is cheaper, but it is bulkier since two volumes are bound as one and the paper is of much lower quality, so the that other edition won't last much more than 10 or 20 years...) |
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