James Romm Bücher

Wenn die Philosophen Trauer tragen! Wir kennen den edlen Römer Seneca, den Stoiker und Autor ethischer Schriften, der mit verklärtem Blick seinen Tod erwartet. Aber es gibt noch einen anderen Seneca – den skrupellosen Politiker und Tyrannenlehrer, der als engster Berater Neros fungiert. Seine Geschichte erzählt James Romm in diesem packenden Buch über das alltägliche Sterben am Hof des Kaisers. Wird es Seneca als Erzieher des jungen Nero gelingen, seinen Zögling zum ersten römischen „Philosophenkönig“ zu formen? Dem steht der Sinn eher nach Musik, Frauen und rauschenden Gelagen. Kaum dass er im Jahre 54 seine Regierung antritt, beginnt sich eine Spirale aus Verunsicherung, Misstrauen und Größenwahn zu drehen. Mit scharfem Blick für die Windungen der neronischen Tyrannenherrschaft zeichnet Romm das Grauen nach, das bald in Rom um sich greift. Dort sterben nicht nur vermeintliche Konkurrenten – nein, das Blutvergießen Neros gipfelt im Mord an der eigenen Mutter. Der Kaiser lässt sich auch nicht die Chance entgehen, nach einer gescheiterten Verschwörung in einer wahren ‚Säuberung‘ die führenden Senatoren hinzurichten. Schließlich ist Seneca selbst an der Reihe und muss erkennen, dass sich die süße Milch der Weisheit, mit der er seinen Schüler einst nährte, in das Gift eines Ungeheuers verwandelt hat.

Als 323 v. Chr. Alexander der Große völlig überraschend im Alter von kaum 33 Jahren in Babylon stirbt, ist sein ganzes Geschlecht – das makedonische Königshaus der Argeaden - dem Tode geweiht. Was sich in den folgenden 25 Jahren an Intrigen und Gewalt, Mord und Krieg abspielt, kann mit jedem Königsdrama Shakespeares mithalten. James Romm beschreibt meisterhaft die dramatischen Ereignisse im Kampf um das Erbe Alexanders. In einer gespenstischen Sterbeszene nimmt Alexander Abschied von seinen engsten Gefährten, die ihm von Jugend auf vertraut waren und mit ihm buchstäblich die Welt erobert hatten. Die Frage, auf wen sein Reich übergehen solle, soll er mit den Worten beantwortet haben: "Auf den Stärksten“. Wer aber der Stärkste ist, muss blutig ausgekämpft werden. Als Resultat dieses Ringens versinkt das riesige Herrschaftsgebilde, das sich über drei Kontinente ausdehnt, in einer nicht enden wollenden Folge von Kriegen. Dabei werden die Familienangehörigen des Toten zu Faustpfändern in den Händen der Diadochen, der ehemaligen Generäle Alexanders, von denen jeder versucht, die gesamte Macht auf sich zu vereinen. In seiner mitreißenden Schilderung der stürmischen Ereignisse und der ebenso leidenschaftlichen wie gewissenlosen Akteure ist dem Autor ein wahres Epos über den Untergang eines Weltreichs gelungen.

During twelve years of continuous campaigns, Alexander conquered an empire that stretched from the shores of the Adriatic to the edge of modern India.

Originally published: Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Praise for James Romm's work highlights his adept exploration of Seneca's life, weaving a compelling narrative that blends vivid storytelling with scholarly insight. Critics describe it as a splendid historical page-turner that focuses on character, demonstrating a masterful touch in bringing history to life. The account is thoroughly engaging, presenting a high-stakes drama filled with murders, madness, and despotism, making it a standout read of the season. Romm's portrayal of imperial intrigues, including incest and suicide, offers a nuanced view of Seneca, showcasing him as neither entirely virtuous nor wholly deserving of his fate. He skillfully presents the complexities of the emperors and elevates the roles of women within the Caesars’ narratives. This multifaceted representation leaves readers feeling enriched and engaged. While Romm does not claim to resolve the long-standing debate over Seneca's character—whether he was an ascetic Stoic or a cunning courtier—he illuminates the historical context with ancient sources and modern critiques. The book is extensively researched, appealing to both scholars and casual history enthusiasts, and provides a timely examination of power politics, corruption, and the consequences of inaction against tyranny.

The historians of Ancient Greece pioneered a new literary craft, leaving an enduring legacy that forms the foundation of a major discipline. This accessible edition features key selections from Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch, whose biographies rely on primary sources now lost. It compiles their most popular and widely taught works, charting landmark events such as the Persian War, Peloponnesian War, and the lives of Alexander the Great and Demetrius, offering a sweeping portrait of the Hellenic world. These historians were the first to explore the possibilities of their craft, emphasizing that historical writing transcends mere chronicles of past events. Together, their works highlight each author's focus on themes like religion, leadership, character, and the lessons of war. For instance, readers are prompted to consider Herodotus's inclusion of speeches, dialogues, dreams, and oracles as part of the factual record. Thucydides offers insights into human nature that remain constant over time, while Plutarch frames historical biography as a means of depicting moral qualities. As contemporaries of the eras they chronicled, Thucydides and Xenophon provide vital eyewitness accounts of their tumultuous times.

A portrait of one of the ancient world's first political celebrities, who veered from failure to success and back again

From classicist James Romm comes a thrilling exploration of the final decades of ancient Greek freedom leading up to Alexander the Great’s destruction of Thebes and the saga of the Theban Sacred Band, an elite military corps of 150 pairs of male lovers. This unit exemplifies a tumultuous period marked by battles, ideological conflicts, and the rise of powerful figures, all centered around the fate of Thebes, the dominant power of the Greek world. The narrative begins in 379 BC, when Theban patriots, disguised as women, infiltrate occupied Thebes to eliminate Spartan agents, who had oppressed much of Greece. This act of defiance leads to the formation of the Sacred Band, whose legacy unfolds amid Theban democracy and fierce power struggles among city-states, alongside the increasing significance of eros, or sexual love, in public life. After four decades of undefeated valor, the Sacred Band meets its demise at the hands of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander in the Battle of Chaeronea, marking the end of Greek liberty for two millennia. Their remains, discovered in 1880, were found in pairs, arms linked, symbolizing their enduring bond. The narrative captures the violent clashes and the bold figures of the era, highlighting a pivotal moment in history.

Marcus Aurelius' Meditations serves as a timeless guide for living a good life, blending stoic philosophy with practical wisdom. This illustrated edition enhances his teachings with thematic chapters, modern commentary, and curated life lessons tailored for contemporary readers. It features fifty meditations paired with thoughtful artwork that brings Aurelius' insights to life, making it an engaging introduction to stoicism. Whether contemplating resilience or harmony, this book offers a visually enriched pathway to understanding and applying Aurelius' enduring principles.

James Romm ci accompagna avventurosamente negli ultimi decenni di libertà dell’antica Grecia fino alla distruzione di Tebe da parte di Alessandro Magno; e allo stesso tempo ci fa scoprire la saga del più grande corpo militare dell’epoca, il Battaglione sacro: un reparto d’élite di 300 uomini reclutati tra coppie di amanti che rimase imbattuto per quarant’anni. Romm mette in luce un momento caotico della storia antica, decenni segnati da battaglie, dispute ideologiche e scontri tra imperi, regni e città, dall’ascesa di uomini forti senza scrupoli e da donne coraggiose. In gioco c’erano la libertà, la democrazia e il destino di Tebe, all’epoca la principale potenza del mondo greco. Se ne Il fantasma sul trono Romm ci aveva raccontato il destino dell’Impero macedone dopo la morte di Alessandro Magno, ora ci porta a poco prima dell’avventura del famoso condottiero, quando la Grecia combatte per l’ultima volta per la propria libertà. E in un testo avvincente ed erudito insieme, ci ritroviamo immersi in un grande affresco storico difficile da dimenticare.