Name: Marcus Aurelius
ISBN: 9780306818301

Frank McLynn

A profile of the second-century emperor, soldier, and philosopher traces his stabilization of the Roman empire, campaigns against Asia, and numerous reform efforts while offering insight into the events that inspired the writing of his famous Meditations.

A Life

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius is the one great figure of antiquity who still speaks to us today, nearly 2,000 years after his death. A philosopher as well as an emperor, his was an extraordinary reign. He proved himself a great leader, protecting the Empire from Germans in the North and fighting the Parthians in the East, and his Meditations - compared by John Stuart Mill to the Sermon on the Mount - remains one of the most widely-read Classical books. Impeccably researched and vividly told, Frank McLynn's Marcus Aurelius is the definitive biography of a monumental historical figure.

Warrior, Philosopher, Emperor

A detailed biography of Marc Aurelius. In some ways too detailed for me, hence only 4,5 stars.

Starting with the beginning of the Antonine dynasty, heavy focus on Marc Aurelius, and going all the way to the end, with Commodus, Marc Aurelius sons, well deserved death. The author tries to put Marc Aurelius live and personality in perspective to the times he lived in and the struggles in his live, giving plausible reasons for his actions and the implications on the future of the Roman empire.

And there were many, the Antonine plague, struggles with Parthia and the risk of invasion by Germanic tribes, the ego of his co-ruler Lucia's Verus, rise of Christianity and the military becoming more and more powerful duringhis reign. All factors which had an impact on the decline and downfall of the Roman empire.

A big part of the book was given to Marc Aurelius the philosopher, as it should be, as his books are still read today. His ideals of thought, his love for stoicism and the interpretation of Meditations by the author and others were a delight to read. Here it helps of course if someone is somewhat familiar with stoicism.

The only thing what was too stretched out and too much into detail, for my personal taste, was the implications of Marc Aurelius writing on future authors and philosopher's.

Overall a recommendation from my side. But be warned a heavy read nevertheless.

André 

A detailed biography of Marc Aurelius. In some ways too detailed for me, hence only 4,5 stars.

Starting with the beginning of the Antonine dynasty, heavy focus on Marc Aurelius, and going all the way to the end, with Commodus, Marc Aurelius sons, well deserved death. The author tries to put Marc Aurelius live and personality in perspective to the times he lived in and the struggles in his live, giving plausible reasons for his actions and the implications on the future of the Roman empire.

And there were many, the Antonine plague, struggles with Parthia and the risk of invasion by Germanic tribes, the ego of his co-ruler Lucia's Verus, rise of Christianity and the military becoming more and more powerful duringhis reign. All factors which had an impact on the decline and downfall of the Roman empire.

A big part of the book was given to Marc Aurelius the philosopher, as it should be, as his books are still read today. His ideals of thought, his love for stoicism and the interpretation of Meditations by the author and others were a delight to read. Here it helps of course if someone is somewhat familiar with stoicism.

The only thing what was too stretched out and too much into detail, for my personal taste, was the implications of Marc Aurelius writing on future authors and philosopher's.

Overall a recommendation from my side. But be warned a heavy read nevertheless.

Marcus Aurelius A Life

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