Edward Gibbon

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. II Edward Gibbon

Famous for its unflagging narrative power, fine organization, and irresistibly persuasive arguments, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire has earned a permanent place of honor in historical literature. Gibbons elegantly detached erudition is seasoned with an ironic wit, and remarkably little of his work is outdated. This second volume covers 395 A. D. to 1185 A. D., from the reign of Justinian in the East to the establishment of the German Empire of the West. It recounts the desperate attempts to hold off the barbarians, palace revolutions and assassinations, theological controversy, and lecheries and betrayals, all in a setting of phenomenal magnificence.