The Rise of Rome

The Making of the World's Greatest Empire

By: Anthony Everitt

Narrated by: Clive Chafer

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Emerging as a market town from a cluster of hill villages in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., Rome grew to become the ancient world's preeminent power. Everitt fashions the story of Rome's rise to glory into an erudite book filled with lasting lessons for our time. He chronicles the clash between patricians and plebeians that defined the politics of the Republic. He shows how Rome's shrewd strategy of offering citizenship to her defeated subjects was instrumental in expanding the reach of her burgeoning empire. And he outlines the corrosion of constitutional norms that accompanied Rome's imperial expansion, as old habits of political compromise gave way, leading to violence and civil war. In the end, unimaginable wealth and power corrupted the traditional virtues of the Republic, and Rome was left triumphant everywhere except within its own borders.

Everitt paints indelible portraits of the great Romans - and non-Romans - who left their mark on the world out of which the mighty empire grew: Cincinnatus, Rome's George Washington, the very model of the patrician warrior/aristocrat; the brilliant general Scipio Africanus, who turned back a challenge from the Carthaginian legend Hannibal; and Alexander the Great, the invincible Macedonian conqueror who became a role model for generations of would-be Roman rulers. Here also are the intellectual and philosophical leaders whose observations on the art of government and "the good life" have inspired every Western power from antiquity to the present: Cato the Elder, the famously incorruptible statesman who spoke out against the decadence of his times, and Cicero, the consummate orator whose championing of republican institutions put him on a collision course with Julius Caesar and whose writings on justice and liberty continue to inform our political discourse today.

Rome's decline and fall have long fascinated historians, but the story of how the empire was won is every bit as compelling. With The Rise of Rome, one of our most revered chroniclers of the ancient world tells that tale in a way that will galvanize, inform, and enlighten modern listeners.

©2012 Anthony Everitt (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Everitt takes [listeners] on a remarkable journey into the creation of the great civilization's political institutions, cultural traditions, and social hierarchy.... [E]ngaging work that will captivate and inform from beginning to end." ( Booklist)

In Depth Skim

This was a great in depth skim of the pre-Caesar Rome. Deep dives into details were provided at each high water mark.

Not enough good to overcome the bad.

There was a lot of good info about the early days of Rome. Unfortunately he conflates the Senate with State and assumes what is good for the moneyed elites is good for Rome. And all reformers were out to wreck the Constitution. Also he over relies on the opinions of the prolific and self-promoting Cicero most of whose works survive. Cicero despeately wanted to be accepted by the Senatorial elites and shamelessly curried their favor. Also fell into trap of praising Hannibal as the greatest general of his age even though he kist half his army just getting to Italy. He won a few great tactical victories but could not convert them to strategic significance. Didn't bring a siege train, suprised by Romes staying power, spent half his time in Italy bottled up while Rome conquered the Mediteranean. The last 3rd was misinformed and full of hackneyed conclusion. The narration was good!

Excellent story, Excellent Narration

Would you listen to The Rise of Rome again? Why?

Yes. I would most definitely listen to it over again. And I am. It is a great overview of the Early years and the end of the republic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Appius Claudius Caecus "The Blind"

Which character – as performed by Clive Chafer – was your favorite?

He didn't really play a character. This is a history book.

Any additional comments?

I really liked this book. But my opinion must be taken with some scrutiny, as this is my first audio book. But I guess I'm not far from the average as this book has an average overall rating of 5 stars. The Narrator has such a voice that if feel he should have narrated my life , I would have payed him for it. his sort of English aristocratic demeanor brings the Rise of Rome to life for me at least. many have commented that he has a sort of two-tone type of voice and never changes. Might i remind you people that this is a historical narrative and not "Fifty Shades of Grey" or the like. if you don't like that then you are reading the wrong book. Not to say this book cannot be extremely exciting. For example, the tale regarding the "Caudine Faux" (probably spelled incorrectly) where the Romans are caught in a pass and are forced to walk "with one item of clothing each" through a gate of spears while being jeered and laughed at by Vulsci soldiers. or when Gaius Decius Mus commited "Devotio" by pulling his toga over his head and riding into the enemy to ensure victory by sacrificing himself. Its tales like these that kept me glued to my earphones. But its all in your own opinion.

If you are fascinated by Roman History at all then you will be delighted by this "lite" retelling of Romes historic rise and domination of Italy.

Ed Gibbon should be proud

An excellent narrative of the rise of Rome as a Roman might see their own history. Excellent read. Great listen, I advise both to really digest and evaluate this great work.

Good Overview

What did you love best about The Rise of Rome?

Really enjoyed the book tho it took me some time to get into it. I thought the Narrator was wonderful and the author goes to great pains to explain part of Roman life and latin as it pertains to the history. I did not like the timeline presented and the author so regularly goes back and forth in time that it was often difficult keeping the story straight.

Very instructive and entertaining

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This author does a good job in combining the legend of Rome with the reality.He portrays what the Romans felt about themselves and their environment. Enjoyed listening to the story.

What other book might you compare The Rise of Rome to and why?

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What does Clive Chafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings an air of intellectualism to the story

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

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Great Listen

A great condensed read. very well written, especially for the amateur historian. Loved it.

Narrator ruins it.

It was hard to pay attention to the story because of the narrator's incredibly annoying manner of delivery.

Fascinating

Loved it! Narration was perfect. This and SPQR by Mary Beard give a true sense of the history of Rome. These Romans are mad!

The narrator ruined this book!

I LOVE Anthony Everitt’s work. I was really looking forward to this “story,” but I quit after about 25 minutes. The narrator drawls our the end of every sentence in the same sing-song drone. It was driving me batty!

I’m an audiobooks veteran, and I can tolerate a lot. But this—I can not tolerate! I returned the book. Such a shame. Anthony Everitt absolutely deserves better!!!!