Tacitus, Annals XIV: A Selection

This is the OCR-endorsed edition covering the Latin A-Level (Group 2) prescription of Annals XIV, 1-13, giving full Latin text, commentary and vocabulary, with a detailed introduction that also covers the prescribed material to be read in English for A Level.

Tacitus is one of the great Roman historians. His Annals, written in the early-2nd century CE, described the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Gaius, Claudius and Nero, covering the years 14-68 CE. In this selection he provides a memorable vignette of Nero’s decadence and cruelty in the failed and then successful murder of his own mother, Agrippina. The drama of Nero’s reign must be read in the context of Tacitus’ perspective as an author writing within living memory of the events he describes, events which shaped the further development of imperial rule.

Supporting resources are available on the Companion Website: https: //www.bloomsbury.pub/OCR-editions-2024-2026

John Storey is Head of Classics at Downside School, UK.