The Copybook: Readings in history and literature

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Alcibiades by Clay Lane

In the populist democracy of 5th-century BC Athens, heroes fell as quickly as they rose.

1

The Death of Julius Caesar by Plutarch

When Julius Caesar entered the Senate that day, a note warning him of treachery was clutched in his hand — unread.

2

Why We Study the Classics by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling believed that a better appreciation of ancient Greece and Rome could help the English be less insular.

3

The Blues, the Greens, and Belisarius by Samuel Goodrich

The Nika Rebellion drew a rising Roman general against some rioting sports fans, and it was a tense game.

4

What the Romans Did for Us by Charles Dickens

The Romans did bring some blessings to Britain, but none so great as the one they did not mean to bring.

5

The Surrender of Vercingetorix by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

As Rome’s grip on Gaul tightened, one man still dared to defy them.

6

The Boldness of Junius Mauricus by Pliny the Younger

Pliny admired Julius Mauricus because he spoke his mind, and Emperor Nerva because he let him.

Classical History