LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
This rich work of narrative history by Adrian Goldsworthy is lucidly framed in the context of the fact that history never stops as it presents the story of the ancient Roman empire’s rivalry with the Parthian and Sasanian Persian dynasties that prevented the Romans from extending their reach in the east.
Covering seven centuries, it’s authoritative, engaging and comprehensive. Of special note, as the author points out in his Foreword, is the fact that “for a change some of the story can be told from a different point of view from the Roman sources”, though Goldsworthy is also transparent when source material is limited.
Above all, The Eagle and the Lion is remarkably readable and immersive, evoking human context as it recounts cycles of rises and falls, and the enduring respect between the mutually sophisticated rivals.
Joanne Owen
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| Primary Genre |
History
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About
The Eagle and the Lion Synopsis
The epic story of the imperial rivalry between two of the greatest empires of the ancient world – Parthian and Persian – and how they rose and eventually fell.
The Roman empire shaped the culture of the western world against which all other great powers are compared. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale.
However, the exception lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over great cities and the trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. This was the place Alexander the Great had swept through, creating a dream of glory and conquest which tantalised Greeks and Romans alike. Caesar, Mark Antony and a long succession of emperors longed to follow in Alexander's footsteps. All failed. Only here did the Roman empire slow down and eventually stop, unable to go any further.
Following seven centuries of conflict that, ultimately, neither Rome nor Persia would win, The Eagle and the Lion delves into the clash, context and journeys of these entities of great power and the people caught in their wider struggle.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781838931964 |
| Publication date: |
4th July 2024 |
| Author: |
Adrian Goldsworthy |
| Publisher: |
Apollo an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
608 pages |
| Primary Genre |
History
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| Other Genres: |
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Press Reviews
Adrian Goldsworthy Press Reviews
Epic history as it is meant to be written! A splendid book that tells the story of the great imperial rivalry of the ancient world with narrative Élan, scholarly authority and a cast of extraordinary characters. - Simon Sebag Montefiore
A sweeping and panoramic account of the first great superpower rivalry – a definitive account. - Tom Holland
A wise and wonderful book, on a historical topic that still speaks to us today. Goldsworthy is a brilliant scholar and an excellent narrator, and here he is at the height of his powers. This book is not to be missed. - Barry Strauss
Meticulous yet sweeping in scope, this is a major contribution to the understanding of a significant period in world history. - Publishers Weekly
Compelling reading... highlighting the enormous cost of two cultures dead set on conquest and triumph - BBC History Revealed
Author
About Adrian Goldsworthy
Adrian Goldsworthy studied at Oxford, where his doctoral thesis examined the Roman army. He went on to become an acclaimed historian of Ancient Rome. He is the author of numerous works of non-fiction, including Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors, Caesar, The Fall of the West, Pax Romana and Hadrian's Wall.
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