The Cambridge Companion to Edward Gibbon (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Edward Gibbons History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire published in three instalments from 1776 to 1788 is widely regarded as the greatest work of history in the English language. Starting with the accession of the Roman Emperor Commodus in the late second century CE Gibbons work traverses thirteen centuries encompassing the rise of Christianity and of Islam the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West and the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. This Companion provides a comprehensive overview of the intellectual roots contemporary European contexts literary style and thematic scale of Gibbons achievement. Alongside the History it gives an introduction to Gibbons other works including the Memoirs he left unfinished at his death and previously unpublished material. Leading international scholars in the fields of classics geography history and literature provide a comprehensive account of Gibbons monumental account of decline fall and global historical transformation.