Humphries, Mark (2002) In Mommsen's Shade: Roman Historiography, Past and Present. Classics Ireland, 9. pp. 28-45.

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Abstract

When it comes to assessing the reputations of the great modern historians of Roman antiquity, Edward Gibbon (1737-94), in the English speaking world at any rate, perhaps counts for more than Theodor Mommsen (1818-1903). Gibbon’s theme is on a grand scale, articulated in mellifluous prose. Mommsen’s work cannot compare on either level: the history of the Republic does not evoke the same visceral fascination as the fall of the Empire; and a translation can hardly match the art of an original. Yet as all those who pursue research into the Roman world know, our debt to Mommsen is perhaps greater than that to Gibbon.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Roman historiography
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > Ancient Classics
Item ID:	367
Depositing User:	M Humphries
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2006
Journal or Publication Title:	Classics Ireland
Publisher:	Classical Association of Ireland
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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