The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Volume 3

Introduction by David P. Womersley
Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire compresses thirteen turbulent centuries into an epic narrative shot through with insight, irony and incisive character analysis. Sceptical about Christianity, sympathetic to the barbarian invaders and the Byzantine Empire, constantly aware of how political leaders often achieve the exact opposite of what they intend, Gibbon was both alert to the broad pattern of events and significant revealing details.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Abridged with a New Introduction and Notes by David Womersley

Abbreviations
Introduction
Selected Further Reading
A Note on the Text
Chronology

Gibbon's Prefaces
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
[Chapters IV-VI]
Chapter VII
[Chapters VIII-XIV]
Chapter XV
[Chapters XVI-XXI]
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
[Chapters XXV-XXVII]
Chapter XXVIII
[Chapters XXIX-XXXIII]
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
[Chapters XXXVI-XXXVIII]
General Observations on the Fall of the Roman Empire in the West
[Chapter XXXIX]
Chapter XL
Chapter XLI
[Chapters XLII-XLIX]
Chapter L
[Chapters LI-LIII]
Chapter LIV
[Chapters LV-LXVII]
Chapter LXVIII
[Chapters LXIX-LXX]
Chapter LXXI

Biographica

Edward Gibbon (1737–1794), born into a prosperous family, was by turns historian, member of the House of Commons, and member of Dr. Johnson’s Club. He is considered the greatest English Enlightenment historian on the basis of his masterpiece, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. View titles by Edward Gibbon

About

Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire compresses thirteen turbulent centuries into an epic narrative shot through with insight, irony and incisive character analysis. Sceptical about Christianity, sympathetic to the barbarian invaders and the Byzantine Empire, constantly aware of how political leaders often achieve the exact opposite of what they intend, Gibbon was both alert to the broad pattern of events and significant revealing details.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Table of Contents

Abridged with a New Introduction and Notes by David Womersley

Abbreviations
Introduction
Selected Further Reading
A Note on the Text
Chronology

Gibbon's Prefaces
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
[Chapters IV-VI]
Chapter VII
[Chapters VIII-XIV]
Chapter XV
[Chapters XVI-XXI]
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
[Chapters XXV-XXVII]
Chapter XXVIII
[Chapters XXIX-XXXIII]
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
[Chapters XXXVI-XXXVIII]
General Observations on the Fall of the Roman Empire in the West
[Chapter XXXIX]
Chapter XL
Chapter XLI
[Chapters XLII-XLIX]
Chapter L
[Chapters LI-LIII]
Chapter LIV
[Chapters LV-LXVII]
Chapter LXVIII
[Chapters LXIX-LXX]
Chapter LXXI

Biographica

Author

Edward Gibbon (1737–1794), born into a prosperous family, was by turns historian, member of the House of Commons, and member of Dr. Johnson’s Club. He is considered the greatest English Enlightenment historian on the basis of his masterpiece, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. View titles by Edward Gibbon