Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman RepublicRubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic
Score Modern
What it's about
Tom Holland tells the story of the last century of the Roman Republic, from the wars of Marius and Sulla through the rivalries of Pompey, Crassus, Cicero and Cato, to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC and the civil wars that ended with Augustus as emperor. He makes the politics, ambition and violence of ancient Rome feel immediate.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize (now the Baillie Gifford Prize) and is a favorite introduction to Roman history.
You'll love it if you liked
I, Claudius
Memoirs of Hadrian
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th CenturyGood to know
There are many names, but Holland keeps it lively. A map helps.
By the numbers
- Readers85 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #135 of the 198 history books we rank
- #520 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1002 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize (now the Baillie Gifford Prize) and is a favorite introduction to Roman history. It ranks #1,002 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic about?
Tom Holland tells the story of the last century of the Roman Republic, from the wars of Marius and Sulla through the rivalries of Pompey, Crassus, Cicero and Cato, to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC and the civil wars that ended with Augustus as emperor. He makes the politics, ambition and violence of ancient Rome feel immediate.
How long does it take to read Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic?
About 12 hours (464 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic?
If you liked it, try I, Claudius by Robert Graves, Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar or A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman.