Jochen Bleicken, who died in 2005, specialized in Roman history and held professorships at Hamburg, Frankfurt and Gottingen. A passionate teacher, he continued to lecture until he was seventy-three. His previous works include The Athenian Democracy and History of the Roman Republic. Anthea Bell is an award-winning translator of French and German literature. Her recent work includes translations of W.G. Sebald, Stefan Zweig and E.T.A. Hoffmann.
An unequalled biography -- Harry Mount * Spectator * Masterful ... a breathtaking panorama of Roman politics at a crucial turning point in history -- Simon J. V. Malloch * Literary Review * Jochen Bleicken's biography of Rome's first emperor is excellent on the young Octavian and his wheeling and dealing -- Natalie Haynes * Independent * A superb account ... It should become standard reading for everyone interested in the foundations of the Roman empire -- Peter Jones * BBC History Magazine * Worthy, authoritative, magisterial and impressive * The Times *