The Story of Augustus Caesar

Without some knowledge of Roman history in general, it is not possible to realize the part Augustus played therein. A biography of him, commencing with his birth and ending with his death, would have very little value as a contribution to history, nor would it throw any real light on Augustus himself. I have endeavoured to show not merely what manner of man Augustus was and what he did during his life, but how he was important and why: and in doing so, though I have said very little about his successors, I have been compelled to speak at some length about his predecessors.