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Summary: Gibbon's Masterpiece in a Readable Edition
Review: These three volumes constitute the first half of Edward Gibbon's masterpiece. Many would-be readers will find reading Gibbon to be somewhat daunting, but his wit, scholarship, and narrative drive (in these early volumes, anyway) make this book hard to resist.A word about the text. Everyman's Library reprints the famous J.B. Bury edition (Bury was a famous Irish historian who wrote a well-respected History of Greece), which is close to 100 years old (it dates to 1909). If you're reading Gibbon for a history course on an undergraduate or post-graduate level, you should probably read the more recent David Womerseley edition, which is available in a three-volume Penguin paperback (with, unfortunately, unreadably microscopic type). The hardcover edition was remaindered recently, though, so you might find it on Amazon secondhand. If you're reading Gibbon for pleasure, however, the Everyman's Library edition is the one to get. The individual volumes are just the right size, and the text is large enough and clear enough to be read easily. The text is complete, which is not always the case (some fancy editions -- the Folio Society's comes to mind -- tend to cut back on the footnotes). Gibbon makes great bedtime reading. Take him slowly, and don't rush. Keep your eye on the footnotes -- some of the best and snarkiest stuff in Gibbon is discreetly hidden in the footnotes (in one of my favorite early footnotes [in Chapter IV] he mentions the giraffe, "the tallest, the most gentle, and the most useless of the large quadrupeds."). If you decide to push on to the second three volumes (Chapters 39-71), be prepared to be patient, because there are some rough spots. It might take you a while to get through it (my last reading of the entire work took me 26 months), but Gibbon is more than worth the effort. Which is why I've just started reading him again -- for the fifth time.
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Summary: Gibbon in a month
Review: This abridged version of Gibbon's history is the most enjoyable one I have read. The book consists mostly of the first half of the original, but also has some of the popular chapters of the latter half. However what delighted me most was that when a paragraph(s) or chapter(s) was omitted, there was a footnote which gave a quick synopsis on what you missed. I suggest this book to anyone that has an adequate reading level and an intrest in Rome. When you finish you'll find yourself more literate and extremly knowledgeable in the history of Rome.
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Summary: A tour de force of Western History
Review: This is a work that every well stocked personal library should have along with Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples. Gibbon is not an "easy read", his style of writing is such that it takes a chaper or so just to "get up the power curve" to his level, but once you are, the book is a joy with its evocative cadence and unfurlling expressions. The complete works is a historical journey that will bring the serious reader an insightful look at the accomplishments and failures of the Roman Empire.
Rating:
Summary: A tour de force of Western History
Review: This is a work that every well stocked personal library should have along with Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples. Gibbon is not an "easy read", his style of writing is such that it takes a chaper or so just to "get up the power curve" to his level, but once you are, the book is a joy with its evocative cadence and unfurlling expressions. The complete works is a historical journey that will bring the serious reader an insightful look at the accomplishments and failures of the Roman Empire.
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Summary: A good introduction to Gibbon
Review: This is an excellent abridged edition of Edward Gibbon's classic "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" and it makes both a perfect introduction for those just getting into Gibbon and a useful portable copy for people who have the entire set. This abridgement includes much of Gibbon's coverage of the decline and fall of the western empire and some interesting chapters and excerpts from the remainder of the work, ideal for the general reader. Most of Gibbon's history still stands up after 200 years (and footnotes point out where it doesn't), and it is written in an absolutely gorgeous English style. Anyone interested in Rome owes it to themselves to read Gibbon, and this is a good place to get your feet wet.
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Summary: Toting books
Review: This is an extremely resourceful book. If someone needs a brief overview of the Roman times, this could be it. Although the volumes are a little thick, they are small enough to tote around wherever you go, if you want. Well, that's all I got to say.
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Summary: my newly found favorite book
Review: This is simply wonderful. I have just completed 790 pages and thus am almost 1/3 of the way through...I know that I shall not only finish the entire unabridged work but reread it. I have put post-its on many many pages so I can go back and review them right away. While the work requires consentration and is slow going (for me) Gibbon's clever use of language, flashes of insight and interesting story are simply wonderful. I believe that this is a must read for any lover of literature or medieval or ancient history or for anyone else who is willing to put in a little effort to obtain the reward of learned entertainment.
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Summary: Good Details
Review: This master work is very rich in detail and, as such, makes a great referrence guide. However, Gibbon's prejudice against Byzantium and the bad press he gave it deter young people from learning about it even today. That being the case, it could be argued that even it might have been better had these tomes never been written. They certainly would have been much better had he kept his personal animosities to himself.
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Summary: Historical Monument.
Review: This mighty book is the paradigm for any historical writing. Only to imagine its first volume was written in 1776 produce awe to the reader. Sure it contains errors that had been pointed out by more recent investigations. Sure is dated in some aspects. But what a monument in itself it is!
It stands as a reference for every historian of the period, for every serious student of Roman history, for every history lover.
Erudite and at the same time so clear and interesting work. Gibbon's prose has a very spicy taste, once you get used to it, you will savor each paragraph.
The study begins with Antonines Period and ends at the Fall of the Empire. Thru that huge period of time, all main characters as Emperors, Generals, Senators, Consuls, Barbaric Kings and their people are shown and their deeds recounted.
The enormous amount of sources consulted by the author and his masterful way to put all that data in an ordered and neat mode still amaze me.
No student or researcher should skip this Historical Monument!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best!
Review: What more can I say but read the entire work. He was the master.
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