The Caesars

by Thomas De Quincey, 1stworld Library (Editor)

Overview

The condition of the Roman Emperors has never yet been fully appreciated; nor has it been sufficiently perceived in what respects it was absolutely unique. There was but one Rome: no other city, as we are satisfied by the collation of many facts, either of ancient or modern times, has ever rivalled this astonishing metropolis in the grandeur of magnitude; and not many - if we except the cities of Greece, none at all - in the grandeur of architectural display. Speaking even of London, we ought in all reason to say - the Nation of London, and not the City of London; but of Rome in her palmy days, nothing less could be said in the naked severity of logic. A million and a half of souls - that population, apart from any other distinctions, is per se for London a justifying ground for such a classification; à fortiori, then, will it belong to a city which counted from one horn to the other of its mighty suburbs not less than four millions of inhabitants [Footnote: Concerning this question - once so fervidly debated, yet so unprofitably for the final adjudication, and in some respects, we may add, so erroneously - on a future occasion.] at the very least, as we resolutely maintain after reviewing all that has been written on that much vexed theme, and very probably half as many more. Republican Rome had her prerogative tribe; the earth has its prerogative city; and that city was Rome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421809946
Publisher:	1st World Library
Publication date:	02/20/2006
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Thomas Penson De Quincey was an English author, philosopher, and literary critic who lived from August 15, 1785, to December 8, 1859. His most famous work is Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821). Many experts say that De Quincey started the tradition of writing about addiction in the West when he published this book. His home address at birth was 86 Cross Street, Manchester, Lancashire. His father was a wealthy businessman who liked reading. The family moved to The Farm soon after Thomas was born, and then to Greenheys, a bigger country house in Chorlton-On-Medlock, which is close to Manchester. He died three years before his mother, Elizabeth Penson, changed her name to De Quincey in 1796. Her old name was Thomas Quincey. His mother moved to Bath that same year and put him in King Edward's School. The child was weak and sick. He spent most of his childhood alone, and when his older brother William came home, he made a lot of noise. Even though De Quincey's mother was smart and had a strong personality, she seems to have made her children more afraid than loved.