Conspiracy Narratives in Roman History

Nonfiction, History, Ancient History, Rome
Cover of the book Conspiracy Narratives in Roman History by Victoria Emma Pagán, University of Texas Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Victoria Emma Pagán ISBN: 9780292758810
Publisher: University of Texas Press Publication: September 26, 2013
Imprint: University of Texas Press Language: English
Author: Victoria Emma Pagán
ISBN: 9780292758810
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Publication: September 26, 2013
Imprint: University of Texas Press
Language: English
Conspiracy is a thread that runs throughout the tapestry of Roman history. From the earliest days of the Republic to the waning of the Empire, conspiracies and intrigues created shadow worlds that undermined the openness of Rome's representational government. To expose these dark corners and restore a sense of order and safety, Roman historians frequently wrote about famous conspiracies and about how their secret plots were detected and the perpetrators punished. These accounts reassured readers that the conspiracy was a rare exception that would not happen again—if everyone remained vigilant.In this first book-length treatment of conspiracy in Roman history, Victoria Pagán examines the narrative strategies that five prominent historians used to disclose events that had been deliberately shrouded in secrecy and silence. She compares how Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus constructed their accounts of the betrayed Catilinarian, Bacchanalian, and Pisonian conspiracies. Her analysis reveals how a historical account of a secret event depends upon the transmittal of sensitive information from a private setting to the public sphere—and why women and slaves often proved to be ideal transmitters of secrets. Pagán then turns to Josephus's and Appian's accounts of the assassinations of Caligula and Julius Caesar to explore how the two historians maintained suspense throughout their narratives, despite readers' prior knowledge of the outcomes.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Conspiracy is a thread that runs throughout the tapestry of Roman history. From the earliest days of the Republic to the waning of the Empire, conspiracies and intrigues created shadow worlds that undermined the openness of Rome's representational government. To expose these dark corners and restore a sense of order and safety, Roman historians frequently wrote about famous conspiracies and about how their secret plots were detected and the perpetrators punished. These accounts reassured readers that the conspiracy was a rare exception that would not happen again—if everyone remained vigilant.In this first book-length treatment of conspiracy in Roman history, Victoria Pagán examines the narrative strategies that five prominent historians used to disclose events that had been deliberately shrouded in secrecy and silence. She compares how Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus constructed their accounts of the betrayed Catilinarian, Bacchanalian, and Pisonian conspiracies. Her analysis reveals how a historical account of a secret event depends upon the transmittal of sensitive information from a private setting to the public sphere—and why women and slaves often proved to be ideal transmitters of secrets. Pagán then turns to Josephus's and Appian's accounts of the assassinations of Caligula and Julius Caesar to explore how the two historians maintained suspense throughout their narratives, despite readers' prior knowledge of the outcomes.

More books from University of Texas Press

Cover of the book The Scarecrow by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Barnaby Rich by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Speeches from Athenian Law by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Aryan Cowboys by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Amazon Sweet Sea by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Outsider in the Promised Land by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book D-Day in History and Memory by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book A Thirsty Land by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Roger Tory Peterson by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Wildflowers and Other Plants of Texas Beaches and Islands by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Folklore by the Fireside by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book The Folds of Parnassos by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Coevolution of Animals and Plants by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Sanctioning Modernism by Victoria Emma Pagán
Cover of the book Globalization in Rural Mexico by Victoria Emma Pagán
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy