Dio's Rome, Volume 1

The first volume of this ambitious project brings Cassius Dio’s monumental Roman history to English ears for the first time in a single, coherent narrative. Drawing on the surviving epitome by the monk Ioannes Zonaras and a collection of scattered fragments, the translator reconstructs the early centuries of the empire—from the age of Pompey to the tumult of the Severan dynasty. Listeners will hear a voice that bridges the ancient Greek source and modern scholarship, offering clear, readable English while preserving the weight of Dio’s original observations.

Beyond the narrative, the edition includes insightful introductions that explain the challenges of working with lost books, the nuances of the Greek text, and the scholarly tradition that has kept Dio alive through the ages. Short, well‑timed pauses let the listener absorb the political intrigue, military campaigns, and cultural shifts that shaped Rome’s rise and decline. Whether you are a history enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this recording opens a door onto a world where emperors, senators, and ordinary citizens collide in a vivid tapestry of power.