The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike Duncan is an absolute masterpiece that brilliantly captures the tumultuous period leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic. As a history enthusiast, I found this book to be both enlightening and captivating from start to finish. Duncan's meticulous research and engaging writing style make complex historical events accessible and fascinating. He has a remarkable ability to weave together the political, social, and economic threads of the era, providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contributed to the Republic's decline. The book delves into the lives and actions of key figures with vivid detail, making them come alive on the pages. One of the standout aspects of this book is Duncan's narrative flair. He balances scholarly rigor with a storytelling approach that keeps the reader hooked. Each chapter is structured to build suspense and intrigue, making it hard to put the book down. The way he connects historical events to contemporary parallels adds an extra layer of relevance and insight. The Storm Before the Storm also excels in its ability to provide context and clarity. Duncan explains the significance of each event and decision, making it easy to follow the complex political machinations and power struggles. His analysis is sharp and thought-provoking, shedding light on the consequences of corruption, ambition, and social unrest. Overall, The Storm Before the Storm is an outstanding work of historical non-fiction. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Roman history or the dynamics of political power. Mike Duncan has created a compelling and informative narrative that will stay with readers long after they have turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to history buffs and general readers alike. Five stars!

The author proves in this book that the beginning of the end of the Roman Republic should be traced to the period between 146 and 78 BC, rather than the events of the First and Second Triumvirate. During that time, too many ambitious men rose to power one after the other breaking the unwritten rules of Rome's Republic (mos maiorum). Each time those rules were broken set a precedent for the next populist demagogue to repeat the feat and go an extra step in breaking the law and destroying the pillars of the Republic. This story is told in a fast-paced way, with enough detail to learn about the key events of the era, but without dwelling too long in them. When ancient sources are contradictory, Duncan tries to present both views, but telling us which one he believes and why. In a time period full of political developments and wars, the author manages to retell the events that keeps the reader's attention. Also, it must be noted this book seems to be really balanced and without bias towards the main characters. It's easy to find authors that try to present conflicting characters like Marius or Sulla in either a good or bad light, depending in their own views. Duncan seems to have no trouble in presenting the good and the bad of each character, without taking sides. He does (understandably) seem to lose this balanced approach when talking about other characters who seem interested in burning the world down, like Saturninus. Overall, very good book, highly recommended for readers interested in this period before the last years of the Roman Republic. It provides context that helps understand how is it that a few years later we see characters like Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Pompey and Octavian.

I found this a vivid recounting of a period with which I have long been familiar. I gained some new insight into a few key players, like Aemilianus and the Metelli and Cinna and Crassus Orator. I have been enjoying listening to the audiobook over the last few days. But I was absolutely shocked at the end, when Duncan offered no attempt at a synthesis of the period as a whole. I agree that this material is incredibly topical, but how are we to generalize to the present when Duncan does not even attempt to draw any general principles? Perhaps the most frustrating moment in the book is when Duncan says that Sulla misdiagnosed the problem with the Republic...and then does not provide his own diagnosis, other than a hint at the excessive power of the senate. That in itself is an interesting thought that I do not follow and would love to hear more about. He has offered more perspective than this in the course of his wonderful podcasts, which I recommend highly. And in this book he offers holistic perspectives on several major characters. And I will buy his next book in both hardcover and audio...but with the hopes that he will be more ambitious next time and offer more commentary. Another reviewer commented that the book reads episodically, and that was my experience with the audiobook. No single chapter felt incomplete, just the book as a whole. I have bumped up my original score to reflect my experience of the separate pieces of the book, taken apart from the ending. Btw, could everyone go to Colleen McCullough's First Man in Rome and click the button about wanting to read it in kindle? I really want to reread that series now, but I just cannot lug those things around anymore!

If you enjoyed his podcast, you will like this book. Great research. Great balance of detail, foreshadowing, and pace.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very interesting narrative. Mike Duncan does a great job structuring it in a way that is easy to follow.

Reads like a novel, finished this in two sittings. And very thought provoking.

Cadeau

This is an excellent book for people wanting a riveting introduction to the fall of republican Rome. It's got all the info, and none of the boring prose typical of history books.

An excellent book on the Roman Republic between the Gracchi and Sulla. Well written, with a look at the inner workings of Roman politics with its twists and turns. Impressive descriptions of the main characters (Scipio Aemilianus, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Marius and Sulla), but also of lesser known politicians such as Livius Drusus, Scaurus or the Metelli. Given the corruption and incompetence of the elites, which led to an upsurge in populism, the use of political violence and the prosecution of political opponents, we may now be experiencing our “storm before the storm”. It could be a warning...

Excellent! Mike Duncan writes with humor and passion about an important and less-highlighted time in ancient Rome's history--the beginnings of the end of the Roman Republic. I found this book helped expand my own knowledge of this era as well as learning more details about the men and women who helped shape the end of the world's first republic.