Allan massie was born on 19 october 1938 in singapore, and was educated at trinity college, glenalmond and trinity college, cambridge. Dec 08, 2011 allan massie is a celebrated novelist and biographer. A novel of the dark ages matter of eternal rome by massie, allan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. From revolutionary to emperor and over one million other books are available for amazon kindle. Massie begins with augustus, the successor to julius caesar, who ruled the roman empire for forty one years and oversaw the beginnings of an extended peace, the pax romana. Allan massie has followed the downward spiral of the dark ages with his. Aug 31, 2008 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. He is a fellow of the royal society of literature, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters from the university of strathclyde in 2008.
Allan massie, one of scotlands foremost literary figures, was born in singapore in 1938, grew up in aberdeenshire and read history at cambridge. Author allan massie brings to life the familys most and infamous members, including mary queen of scots, charles i and bonnie prince charlie. In his career as an author, allan massie also published nonfiction books as well such as muriel spark, byron, and colette. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet, antony, augustus, tiberius and caesaras well as several works of nonfiction. Allan massie born 1938 is a wellknown scottish journalist, sports writer and novelist. Allan massies achievement in caesar as in augustus, in particular, and in tiberius, is to infuse the mythical emperor with blood, to press succulent marrow into the hollow of his bones. Augustus was the founder of the roman empire, adopted son of julius caesar, friend and later foe of mark antony, patron of horace and virgil.
Massie succeeds admirably in bringing to life the architect of imperial rome and the society that surrounded him. It outlines the main phases of his career with reference to prominent social and political. After reading history at trinity college, cambridge, he spent some years in rome before returning to live in the scottish borders. It is written as the memoirs of decimus brutus, one of caesars assassins, in custody, awaiting judgement and almost certain death for his part in the slaying. He is also a leading columnist for the daily mail, daily telegraph, sunday times and the scotsman. As the family that followed the tudor reign and ruled scotland for over 300 years and britain and ireland for over a century, the stuarts remain one of the most controversial and divisive of royal families. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The royal stuarts by allan massie overdrive rakuten.
Surviving, by allan massie massies lurid plot is mostly just a balance for much softer, sadder apprehensions of common disappointment and ageing, says ben jeffery ben jeffery. Allan massies latest bordeaux novel is another fine vintage. First, it masterfully blends nonfiction and fiction. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. He was violent and vicious, a murderer and guilty of committing incest with his. Allan johnstone massie cbe frsl frse born 16 october 1938 is a scottish journalist, columnist, sports writer and novelist. May or may not have a dust jacket usual signs of a well read book but good overall condition. Tiberius himself, a man who forced to divorce his wife to marry augustus own daughter julia, forced to become emperor and so bitter as to treat julia and her children so brutally that each one in turn committed suicide just to get away from him. May not look good on your bookcase after reading and probably not suitable as a present unless hard to find elsewhere most images are stock photos. He was violent and vicious, a murderer and guilty of committing incest with his sisters. Augustus by allan massie and a great selection of related books.
In allan massie s fictional account of the life of augustus there is a similar awareness of the way that political life is all about reacting to unpredictable realities. A comparative essay of i cladius by robert graves and augustus by alan massie essay by willyritz, college, undergraduate, a, january 2003 download word file, 8 pages download word file. Allan massie s achievement in caesar as in augustus, in particular, and in tiberius, is to infuse the mythical emperor with blood, to press succulent marrow into the hollow of his bones. Download now augustus was the founder of the roman empire, adopted son of julius caesar, friend and later foe of mark antony, patron of horace and virgil. Jan 12, 2016 so good solid stuff, but if you want a pacier alternative allan massie s book augustus is excellent, fleshes out the characters and zips along, get the history right and skips the dull bits. In the caesars, allan massie presents a history of rome in the first century b. The fifth century was not the best time to be a roman. Massie also used the writings of plutarch and dio cassius, both of whom based some of their work on nowvanished autobiographies by augustus, tiberius, and claudius. Clever, witty and original, allan massie writes under the name of the emperor who everyone remembers for being bloody and cruel. In 2002 i alienated influential people by attacking the edinburgh book festival, the first and now biggest of several such hoolies which descend on scots towns melrose, wigtown, etc. Allan massie gives a fictional account of what its contents might have been from the future augustuss reaction to the assassination of julius caesar down to the end of his life. It is based on the factual historical events of the period, but it is embellished with fictional details that are generally consistent with the broader historical facts. He lives in the scottish borders and writes for the daily telegraph, scotsman and for the spectator, where he has a regular column. His most recent nonfiction book is the royal stuarts.
He has published 23 works of fiction and nine of nonfiction, which include a string of highly successful historical novels. He began his career as a teacher 196071 at drumtochty castle school, and also taught english as a second language in rome 19725. Allan massies latest bordeaux novel is another fine. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. In allan massies fictional account of the life of augustus there is a similar awareness of the way that political life is all about reacting to unpredictable realities. Allan massie and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Augustus by john williams is a unique and special book, on several levels. Claudius the god by robert graves and augustus by allan massie are two such books. A history of the family that shaped britain by allan massie in djvu, fb3, rtf download ebook. Augustus by allan massie meet your next favorite book. Julius caesar and the transformation of the roman republic provides an accessible introduction to caesars life and public career. Massie is one of scotlands most prolific and wellknown journalists, writing regular columns for the scotsman, the sunday times scotland and the scottish daily mail. Allan massie is a celebrated novelist and biographer.
Brutus insists that he has no need to make an apology and sets out his reasons. Caesar is a 1993 historical novel by scottish writer allan massie, the third in the authors series of novels about the early roman emperors synopsis. The first of a planned historical trilogy is set in the last days of the roman empire as massie tiberius, 1993, etc. Shop amongst our popular books, including 19, the royal stuarts, the three musketeers and more from allan massie. The protagonists in these novels, claudius and augustus, were both emperors of rome at the height of its power making them ideal candidates for such a work. A comparative essay of i cladius by robert graves and. The book is divided into two parts, each of which is introduced by the fictional scholar, aeneas frasergraham. The evening of the world, by allan massie the independent. He lives in the scottish borders and writes for the daily telegraph, scotsman and for the spectator, where he has a regula. Allan massie lives deep in the scottish borders where distractions are few, especially if, like him, you do not drive. Apart from publishing singles, allan massie is also the author of various trilogies and book series many of which include historical novels such as caesar, caligula, tiberius and many others.
In this sequel to augustus, alan massie combines a compelling study in public power and private tragedy with a vibrant portrait of the roman world. He has lived in the scottish borders for the last 25 years, and now lives in selkirk. Cicero, his first biography, was chosen by both allan massie and andrew roberts as the best book of the year in the united kingdom. Download one of the free kindle apps to start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, and computer. Explore books by allan massie with our selection at. Aug 07, 2009 massie s lurid plot is mostly just a balance for much softer, sadder apprehensions of common disappointment and ageing, says ben jeffery ben jeffery fri 7 aug 2009 19. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Publication date 1987 topics augustus, emperor of rome, 63 b.
Augustus was the founder of the roman empire, adopted son of julius caesar, friend and later foe of mark antony, patron of horace and virgil frank and forceful, this putative autobiography tells his story from the assassination of caesar, through his military, political and personal struggles to his final days as. He is also the author of nearly 30 books, including 20 novels. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar. Allan massie gives a fictional account of what its contents might have been from the future augustus s reaction to the assassination of julius caesar down to the end of his life. Allan massie author allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar. Now he speaks for himself a proud, secretive, troubled man, a great general yet reluctant ruler, disgusted by the degeneracy which surrounds him. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet, antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar, as well as several works of nonfiction. He lives in the scottish borders and writes for the daily telegraph and the scotsman. In the year 1980, allan massie published his second novel titled, the last peacock, which scooped the highly coveted fredrick niven award.
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