Gibbon's "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" (the second and third volumes were originally published in 1781), is one of the most famous texts in the English language. David Womersley's annotated edition returns to manuscript and original sources.



Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire compresses thirteen turbulent centuries into an epic narrative shot through with insight, irony and incisive character analysis. Sceptical about Christianity, sympathetic to the barbarian invaders and the Byzantine Empire, constantly aware of how political leaders often achieve the exact opposite of what they intend, Gibbon was both alert to the broad pattern of events and significant revealing details.