Agricola and Germany (Oxford World's Classics)

Finally after 91 years of "scholarly" and mediocre translations of The Agricola by self appointed "learned academics" A. R. Birley has produced a work that demonstrates why Tacitus has been regarded as among the best historians and rhetoricians of antiquity. The beauty and the elegance of the original is apparent in this translation, that has been lacking since the translation of W. H. Fyfe in 1908. The love and the sense of loss that Tacitus had for his father in law is still apparent to us, who live two thousand years after them.To illustrate the superiority of this translation a few examples follow: The first example is the translation of the term "divus" as in "divus Augustus" or "divus Claudius". Fyfe translated this term as sainted, and Birley as deified. Both of these seem to be adequate renditions of the term. However the Leob Classical Library's translation, by M. Hutton, translates the term as "of happy memory." This is curious because in their edition they compare the original Latin on the left with the English on the right. One would think that one of Leob's editors would have just looked at the Latin to see if it at least resembled the English. But this is even preferable to the Penguin translation, by H. Mattingly revised by S. A. Handford, wherein they just dropped the term altogether. Apparently Messrs. Mattingly, Handford, and Hutton felt that we the reading public wouldn't understand roman titles of respect and sought to protect us from this pagan ritualism.A second example occurs near the end of the third chapter when Tacitus laments the passage of fifteen years due to the tyranny of Domitian. Birley's (and Fyfe's was similar) translation reads; "So many years have been stolen from the middle of our lives, years in which those of us who were youths have become old men and the old men have reached almost the end of their allotted span - in silence." The Penguin translation reads; "since so many of our best years have been taken from us - years in which men in their prime have aged and old men have reached the extreme limit of mortality, without ever uttering a word." The Leob translation has, "for out of our prime have been blotted fifteen years, during which young men reached old age and old men the very bounds almost of decrepitude, and all without opening their lips." Apparently the Leob and Penguin translators wanted us (the reading public) to understand that the young are now old and the old almost dead, but in their haste to "dumb-down" the original they sacrificed the beauty, the brevity and the profound nature of Tacitus. Furthermore the Leob and Penguin translators apparently didn't realize that it was "us" that had aged and not other "young men" who had aged. The final example is from the last paragraph of the Agricola. Birley's translation reads; "Many of the men of old will be buried in oblivion, inglorious and unknown. Agricola's story has been told for posterity and he will survive." The Penguin translation is close and reads; "With many it will be as with men who had no name or fame: they will be buried in oblivion. But Agricola's story is set on record for posterity, and he will live." But the Leob translation gives us; "Many of the ancients will forgetfulness engulf as though neither fame nor name were theirs. Agricola, whose story here is told, will outlive death, to be our children's heritage." The remarkable thing about the Leob translation is that it doesn't even resemble the Latin original with spurious details about children's heritage and engulfing forgetfulness. That is bad but Penguin is worse because the editors added a note that this last passage is "strange". They didn't realize that Tacitus had lifted a line from Horace. One must wonder why these "scholars" learned Latin in the first place if they weren't going read and study the classics. Maybe Penguin's editors simply thought we, the public, would be oblivious to other classical writers and would learn to hate the Romans as they so obviously do.There are many other examples in both the Agricola and the Germania that I could quote however; that would serve no purpose. In conclusion this translation of the Agricola reminds me of why I admire and respect the writers of antiquity. Perhaps the reason that the ancients are no longer esteemed isn't because they are no longer relevant to our age but because of the miserable quality of recent translations.

To be honest, I chose this book because of its cover. It depicts “passing under the Roman yoke” – warriors submitting.Tacitus depicts two warrior types: the warrior victorious and the warrior in defeat – the insurgent.The book offers a helpful glossary and a good historical timeline. Maps at pages lii-lvi; Major themes are freedom, glory, and moderation.The best thing to be gained from the study of philosophy is a sense of proportion. (p. 5)All that is achieved by submissiveness is that heavier burdens are imposed (p. 12)It is advantageous for Rome for Roman arms to be seen everywhere and for freedom to be kept out of sight. (p. 18)A common danger can only be warded off by a united front (p. 21)Defeat in battle always begins with the eyes (p. 60 – refers to terrorizing the enemy before the battle)The areas of Gaul that were defeated by Rome could not present a unified defense due to tribal divisions. Fear of one another prevented cooperation against a mutual enemy. (p. 37)

Often, while reading or taking courses on Roman history or the European Renaissance, quotes from Tacitus are given as confirmation. While only 62 pages of A.R. Birley’s translation, “Tacitus: Agricola and Germany,” are the writings of Tacitus, the remaining 140 pages being composed of introduction, maps, notes, glossary and index, the book was most worthwhile and a good start toward further study of Rome’s greatest historian. The introduction and notes were instructive and well written. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read concerning Britain and Germany during the height of the Roman Empire. My favorite quote from the book, "Defeat in battle always begins with the eyes."

Tacitus provides an interesting ethnography of both Britons and Germans, none of which is complementary to the Romans. Furthermore, in AGRICOLA, an oration on his father-in-law's life, Tacitus holds ups a mirror of virtue by which one can see the corruption and degeneracy of the current Roman emperor in particular and Roman elites in general. He gets some digs in against Domitian, which make a reader wonder how he survived, but Tacitus knew how to play the game. He himself is something of a model, as he makes his father-in-law, for engagement with a corrupt system without losing virtue. Tacitus knew how to write, too. Even in translation, a reader can see how crisp and clean his prose is.

I bought this for my 22 year old grandson. He said he wished there were more pictures but he was getting into the reading of it. He is a history buff. He liked it.

Great translation and sleek layout as usual with the Oxford books.

I love learning all about Germania and my ancestors from any source, this is a great source book, and is a book normally used for colleges.

This tacitly completed my Tacitus.

Good introduction

Quick delivery, great condition and great price. Many thanks

Item exactly as described and sent promptly, I would buy again from this seller.

Some of the translations I'd come across for the Agricola had been pretty dire and very old fashioned- this one is absolutely great, very clear and simple language and you really get a sense of the kind of ideas Tacitus was trying to underscore. Great book.

Muy buena edición a un precio increíble.