ANNALS

Tacitus writes a warning to the powerful that history will judge them. He himself is critical, even savagely judgmental, in his second-century history of the four Roman emperors who followed Augustus. (Only parts of it survive.) Narrator David Timson captures the author's frequent scorn and disgust; he reads many quotations in a mocking voice. His pronunciation is flawless and his pacing a shade quick. He is effortlessly skilled in matching emphasis and the shaping of phrases and sentences to sense. While he brings an actor's expressiveness to the text, his exuberance and energy sometimes seem excessive for this censorious historian. Nonetheless, Timson's energy helps engage the listener and hold their attention. His clarity and skill deliver a commendable program. W.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2021]