Thinking about the Caesars, I turned to the Ohio State History Department’s e-magazine Origins. I found there an interesting essay about Caesar Augustus which was published in August (appropriately enough). My favorite quote about the life of Augustus is: “This story is usually told and appreciated like a power fantasy.” The author goes on to equate Augustus with power and to suggest that we exult in the positive aspects of his reign — fabulous wealth! artistic achievements! public works! glory and more glory! — without remembering the human tragedy, anguish, and poverty that accompanied them. In other words, the man, and the biography of the man, obscure (some of the) historical circumstances around him. Surely in part that is due to Plutarch and Suetonius? I suppose I am looking forward to the religious turn my biography course is about to take. How will all the questions we’ve asked so far about life writing look different when we are no longer con...
A blog about travel and staying put, reading and writing, food and food for thought.