Pax Audiobook By Tom Holland cover art

Pax

War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age

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Pax

By: Tom Holland
Narrated by: Tom Holland
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The definitive history of Rome’s golden age—an ultimate superpower at the pinnacle of its greatness

The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire’s golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the world’s population. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind.

Pax is a captivating narrative history of Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland shows ancient Rome in all its glory: Nero’s downfall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the building of the Colosseum and Hadrian’s Wall, the conquests of Trajan. Vividly sketching the lives of Romans both ordinary and spectacular, from slaves to emperors, Holland shows that Roman peace was the fruit of unprecedented military violence.

A stunning portrait of Rome’s glory days, this is the epic history of the Pax Romana.

©2023 Tom Holland (P)2023 Basic Books Ancient Military Rome Ancient History Emotionally Gripping Italy Ancient Greece
Masterful Storytelling • Engaging Narrative • Expressive Voice • Vivid Historical Details • Accessible History
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This addition to his narrative of Roman history is a masterpiece of storytelling, even after having knowledge of the main events of this period, Tom Holland will make connections that delight and surprise. If one is interested in the era of Rome at its climax, look no further, this book belongs in the pantheon of great Roman histories.

Tom Holland delivers like a Triumphant Caesar once again…

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This is a lovely literary jaunt through the period known as the Pax Romana. This is a long way from the brusk lectures I’ve heard where “this date this happened, then this date that happened”. The book is filled with antidotes and personalized prospectives of the people covered, bring their stories to life.

Great book!

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Great narrative of Roman Empire. Easy to follow. Will listen again and again. Great. Excellent

Great consider narrative

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Excellent picture of the Peace of Rome brought by the Sword of Rome. Author is also the perfect narrator.

Tom Holland is the perfect narrator for his works.

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Pax is a delicious journey through the apex of Roman power, all the while hinting at its eventual downfall and transformation.I could not have enjoyed this book more, simply because the author, Tom Holland, provided the deft and thoughtful narration. This book is so good and comprehensive, I will be listening to it more than once. The author helps us see clearly, the foundational aspects of Roman civilization and its culture, as recognizable and yet wildly different from our own. Exquisitely written and narrated.

Stunningly Good, Of Course!

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I loved the detail about the trends and morals of the Roman Empire. I am looking forward to future books on the empire and early Rome as well!

Outstanding

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Thrilling account. Beautifully written. Holland does it again. Highly recommended to anyone interested in history.

Brilliant

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As always, Holland delivers an enjoyable, interesting, informative and accessible look into a slice of the past

Interesting and informative

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The story and its outline was very familiar to me but I really enjoyed how deeply it dug into what he understood was the world view and cultural beliefs of the time, bringing the story to life

Original point of view

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Tom Holland is a master of narrative history, detailing the events of Ancient Rome with the same drama and intrigue as could be expected in a thriller novel. Rubicon and Dynasty (his previous two books on Rome) are both great but Pax may be my favorite out of the three. Holland’s sophisticated prose and diction are present as ever here but the overall narrative is easier to follow. Unlike Rubicon and Dynasty, however, he narrates his own work in Pax. Initially I was speculative of the result as his voice doesn’t carry quite the gravitas of his past narrators. However, his enunciation is clear and his infliction is subtly engaging—even when listening at 2X narration speed. Ultimately, I came to enjoy this book even more by hearing Holland himself tell the story of Pax Romana. A fine addition to any history enthusiast’s library.

Narrative History at its Finest

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