The Annals of Tacitus: Book 16

A commentary on the last surviving book of Tacitus' Annals, dealing with historical, literary and linguistic issues.

The first scholarly commentary in English on Annals 16 in over a century. Intended for all who work on Tacitus, and, more broadly, on early imperial historiography and history. Focuses on the last period of Nero's principate and includes famous passages such as the deaths of Poppaea and Petronius.This is the first scholarly commentary in English on Annals 16 in over a century. It offers a literary, historical and linguistic analysis of one of the most gripping books of the work, which includes, among other things, the narratives of Bassus' treasure trove, Poppaea's death, Petronius' suicide, and Thrasea Paetus' demise, at which point the text breaks off. The detailed commentary pays particular attention to Tacitus' narrative technique and idiosyncratic language, revealing his precise narrative strategy, which becomes evident when compared to the other sources of Nero's principate, such as Suetonius and Cassius Dio. The edition will be invaluable for scholars and postgraduate students who work on Tacitus, as well as those interested in early imperial historiography and history more broadly, especially of the Julio-Claudian period.