Ammianus Marcellinus is one of the most important historians of Antiquity. While little is known of Marcellinus' life other than what can be gleaned from his writings, he is thought to have been born in the early 320s and lived until at least 391.<br><br>Marcellinus documented the history of Rome from the year 96 until 378, however the writings covering the period until 353 have since been destroyed. This book begins with <i>Book XIV</i>, which is the first book of Marcellinus' that still exists today. Modern scholars have deemed Marcellinus' work to be a relatively accurate account, and it remains one of the most important sources of history from this time period. Marcellinus writes in a surprisingly concise style, and it is clear that he intended his work to be digested by a large audience. This collection contains eighteen of Marcellinus's books, and is concluded with a detailed index.<br><br>At more than six hundred pages, this is no light history. Marcellinus work is a gold mine of information, and has informed the work of countless historians throughout history. While the author is never able to truly mask his rhetoric, his accounts are even-handed, and will likely continue to serve as valuable sources of information for years to come.<br><br>Readers interested in the history of Rome owe it to themselves to read <i>The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus</i>. As one of the only surviving history texts from the period of Antiquity, there are few historical resources as valuable as this one. Marcellinus's work is an absolute must read for any serious student or scholar of history.