Sulla the Fortunate: Roman General and Dictator [Paperback]

G. P. Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2001

Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC), soldier, politician, and statesman, set the standard of dictator for the generations that followed his death—the most famous dictator to follow Sulla's systematic path to power was Julius Caesar. In his lifetime, Sulla faced issues such as the decay of religious faith, the end of the aristocracy, the rise of the proletariat, and the growth of international finance. It was unquestionably a momentous era in the world's history, and Sulla's story is a tale of the Roman ambition par excellence: alliances, battles against rival Roman armies, plots, assassinations, and a civil war initiated by Sulla himself in which he seized power.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This impressive and informative biography relates the numerous battles Sulla and his arch rival Gaius Marius (a Roman general of great abilities) fought in Africa, Gaul, and Greece to defend the empire's borders. Highly recommended reading for all students of Roman history, Sulla the Fortunate is a marvelously presented historical record of warfare, alliances, and betrayals that brings Rome and its politics back to life. (Thomas G. Whelan The Midwest Book Review )

This impressive and informative biography relates the numerous battles Sulla and his arch rival Gaius Marius (a Roman general of great abilities) fought in Africa, Gaul, and Greece to defend the empire's borders. Highly recommended reading for all students of Roman history, Sulla the Fortunate is a marvelously presented historical record of warfare, alliances, and betrayals that brings Rome and its politics back to life. (Thomas G. Whelan The Midwest Book Review )

Baker has written a vivid, lively account of Sulla and his times, and has given a very readable study of the dictator's character and career. (Times Literary Supplement )

[An] extremely entertaining and effective biography..... [The author's] interpretation of the evidence is scrupulously fair. Baker has accomplished his main business, the portrait of a salient and brilliant personality, with notable distinction (Saturday Review )

About the Author

Historian G. P. Baker (1879-1951) is the author of Hannibal, Augustus, and Tiberius Caesar.

Historian G. P. Baker (1879-1951) is the author of Hannibal, Augustus, and Tiberius Caesar.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Press; 1 edition (May 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815411472
• ISBN-13: 978-0815411475
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #944,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Opinionated gossip not history, January 9, 2002

By 

Tom Munro "tomfrombrunswick" (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sulla the Fortunate: Roman General and Dictator (Paperback)

This is a book which was written in 1927 and is very dated. The author has no foot notes and the book does not have a bibliography. It is a folksy anecdotal telling of the career of the Roman dictator Lucius Cornelious Sulla which is replete with the the prejudices of the author.

For example Mithradates VI King of Pontus is described at one point as "every much a Turk". At another point he is described as a "typical Asiatic" despite the fact that the concept was invented after the conquests of the Ottoman Empire. Throughout the book concepts more at home with Victorian England than ancient Rome are continually introduced. He thus talks of the influence of "Capatalists" in what was basically a land owning society.

The book seems to be based on Plutarch with the author providing his own gloss. The historical accuracy is not great. Baker accepts on face value ancient accounts of battles which had been called into question by both Dodge and Delbruck prior to the writing of this book in 1927.

This is popular and opinionated history at its worse. I am surprised that the book is still in print.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, November 26, 2001

By 

ilmk "ilmk" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sulla the Fortunate: Roman General and Dictator (Paperback)

I must confess I read this more for the style of historiography, rather than the accuracy of the content. In the former it lived up to expectation, having that travelogue style to the scholarship that is almost delightfully quaint. Not that there is a problem with that early twentieth century style of history because it is far better at drawing the general reader into a real sense of 'being there' and creating a personality. And therein lies it flaw. As with many other modern historical biographies of its time it lacks the refined historical approach of the contemporary essay, which are in themselves, confessionably dry to read.
So, read it but if you're a serious scholar of Sulla go elsewhere for your information.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SULLA, the Tormented, May 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sulla the Fortunate: Roman General and Dictator (Paperback)

While this is not an exhaustingly researched book replete with facts and figures on Sulla, it was never meant to be such as the author himself says in the foreword. It was always meant to be a brief history of Sulla and his times, and a subjective analysis of his life, character and actions. Sometimes the historian must use imagination and not just facts and figures. I found the insights in this book fascinating and would recommend it for someone who wants a grasp of the essentials of Sulla and what made him tick if not the details.