Agricola / Germania / Dialogue on Oratory

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Cornelius Tacitus became an orator, married in 77 Julius Agricola's daughter before Agricola went to Britain, was quaestor in 81 or 82, a senator under the Flavians & a praetor in 88. After four years' absence he experienced the terrors of Domitian's last years & turned to historical writing. He was a consul in 97. Close friend of the younger Pliny, they successfully prosecuted Marius Priscus.
Works:
Life & Character of Agricola, written 97/8, interesting because of Agricola's career in Britain.
Germania , an important description of the geography, anthropology, products, institutions, social life of the German tribes as known to the Romans.
Dialogue on Oratory of unknown date; a lively conversation about the decline of oratory & education.
Histories , a work originally consisting of at least 12 books covering the period 69-96, but only I-IV & part of V survive, dealing in detail with the dramatic years 69-70.
Annals, originally covering the period 14-68 & published between 115-ca. 120. Of at least 16 books, there survive I-IV ; a bit of V & all VI ; part of XI ; XII-XV & part of XVI .
Tacitus is renowned for his development of a pregnant concise style, character study & psychological analysis, & for the often terrible story which he brilliantly tells. As a historian of the early Roman empire he is paramount.
The Loeb Classical Library edition is in five volumes.