Crassus: The First Tycoon (Ancient Lives)

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The metallic white powder that powers electric cars may finally bring the homegrown wealth to Rome that the ancient Romans liked to think was always there—but, curiously, never liked to look for. However, this short history of one of Rome's most interesting characters is a gift from Peter Stothard. We publish history, politics, current affairs, art, architecture, biography and pretty much everything else.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. There is an enormous amount of information condensed in the few pages and it is certainly not for beginners, but a good way for amateur enthusiasts to refresh their memory and knowledge of this fascinating period in Roman history, covering roughly the period from the end of the Sulla-Marius rivalry to the beginnings of Caesar's reign and the beginning of the end for the Republic.He purchased the election of priests, even investing spectacular sums to make Caesar chief priest, the pontifex maximus, as a counterweight to the power of Pompey. The writing is very accessible and flows fairly well but definitely is not going to be the definitive crassus by any stretch, for now Allen Ward still holds that title and if it weren't for the fact that it was out of print I'd encourage others to go there first or at the very least give it a read. However, he ignored it and worse he also dismissed a warning from an emissary of his Parthian opponent when Crassus turned down an offer of being free to leave and said he would give his answer once he was embedded in the royal city of Seleuceia. See our Remarkables Archive list for what is no longer in print, but which we are happy to track down. Great quick read and a wonderfully concise window into the period of ultimate crisis that would break the Roman Republican.

Here he cleverly explores the life of one of the most puzzling and elusive ‘big men’ in the history of Rome, and why it matters. It moves quickly and feels jumpy at times but it is informative and tries to stick to the source material.New Paperbacks NEW PAPERBACKS [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="total_products"/] A selection of recent paperbacks. Stothard’s elegant and penetrating biography could not be more apposite in this age of political turmoil.

Romans saw the value of precious metals but also the danger of mining them—for pollution of mind and the land.This short biography is nice and concise, but it can only be so short because it assumes good prior knowledge. Had he taken the advice of one of his officers and a future assassin of Caesar Cassius he might have salvaged something. The financier of Rome's Late Republic, member of the unofficial Triumvirate with Caesar and Pompey, and suppressor of Spartacus's rebellion, he is perhaps best remembered as the loser at Carrhae when - after watching his son's untimely death - he has his own head removed from his body, later (according to rumour) to be used as a prop in a Greek play.