Rome and Persia

"Goldsworthy [wears his] deep knowledge of the Roman world lightly and [knows] how to tell a good story. [His history] also might strike a very contemporary note of interest for many people — men and women alike." 

"Parts of Rome and Persia read like the script of a Latin American telenovela, with labyrinthine twists and turns to match. It’s a complicated story with proxy wars and peace treaties galore, pendular swings between victory and defeat and a pirouetting cast of characters thrown up by assassinations. It is to Goldsworthy’s credit that he relates it with clarity and panache without insulting the intelligence of the reader…You will be hard-pressed to find a better history of [the rivalry of Rome and Persia] in a single volume.”

"Magnificent."

“Goldsworthy fills a little-known but important gap in the history of the Western World with a history of the lands of Armenia, Iraq, and Syria that, as part of the Parthian Empire, became contentious ground between two empires... . Rome and Persia is annotated, includes a detailed chronology, and has a bibliography. It has lists of rulers to help the reader sort through this history of empires."

"Meticulous yet sweeping in scope, this is a major contribution to the understanding of a significant period in world history."

“An expert account of a historical rivalry long neglected by popular historians.”

“Epic history as it's means to be written! A splendid book that tells the story of the great imperial rivalry of the ancient world with narrative elan, scholarly authority, and a cast of extraordinary characters.”

“Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry, is a wise and wonderful book, on a historical topic that still speaks to us today. Goldsworthy is a brilliant scholar and an excellent narrator, and here he is at the height of his powers. This book is not to be missed.”

“A sweeping and panoramic account of the first great superpower rivalry - a definitive account.”

“Renowned for his brilliant evocations of the Roman past, here Adrian Goldsworthy turns his focus towards the mighty Sasanians and explores how this long-lived Iranian dynasty challenged Rome for the title of world’s Superpower. Written with his customary flair and brio, Goldsworthy sheds much-needed light on this crucial period in east-west relations and thrillingly demonstrates what happens when two worlds collide.”