The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a literary masterpiece written by Edward Gibbon, recounts the past in a profoundly truthful way, telling an incredible story and setting the bar for all future historians.
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In the course, Books That Matter: The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Professor Leo Damrosch examines this great work from multiple perspectives; as a vast historical chronicle, as a compelling masterpiece of literature, as a sharp commentary on cultural mores, and as a cautionary tale to Enlightenment Europe. […]
One of the big questions throughout anyone’s life is a common one: Should you take revenge? How much time should you give pondering revenge? In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we see first hand where the path of vengeance can tragically lead. […]
For all its renown as a work of style, elegance, wit, and insight, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by the Enlightenment historian Edward Gibbon can be quite intimidating for the armchair historian. Yet even today, centuries after its original publication, Gibbon’s historical chronicle demands to be read and understood. […]
James Joyce’s Ulysses is a masterwork that has become a giant in the world of modern literature. Two main reasons: its tumultuous history and its […]
The Epic of Beowulf (c. 675–725) and The Saga of Hrólf Kraki (c. 13th century) look back to the 6th century when legendary kings of Denmark and Sweden ruled from great halls and won great victories. These figures were role models and inspirations to the sea kings and territorial rulers of the Viking Age. […]
Many of H. G. Wells’ science fiction stories contain fantastical utopian overtones. What was the historical impact of including these utopian settings within the context of his writings? And, relatedly, is there a way to see utopia as being inherently part of the science fiction project? […]
Enter the world of utopian and dystopian fiction on this episode of The Torch! […]
Even though Mary Shelley knew about the popular plays based on her novel, she couldn’t possibly have foreseen what Frankenstein would spawn over the next two centuries… […]
In 1825, a group of aristocrats attempted an uprising on a St. Petersburg square. Naïvely, given that they had no widespread support, they thought they […]
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