Catiline's War, the Jugurthine War, Histories

"The earliest Roman historian with complete works to his name, Sallust (86-c. 35 B.C.) was a senator of the Roman Republic and younger contemporary of Cicero, Pompey and Julius Caesar. His Catilino's War tells of the conspiracy in 63 B.C. led by L. Sergius Catilino, who plotted to assassinate numerous senators and take control of the government, but was thwarted by Cicero. Sallust's vivid account of Roman public life shows a Republic in decline, prey to moral corruption and internal strife. In The Jugurthine War he describes Rome's fight in Africa against the king of the Numidians from 111 to 105 B.C., and provides a damning picture of the Roman aristocracy. Also included in this volume are the major surviving extracts from Sallust's now fragmentary Histories, depicting Rome after the death in 78 B.C. of the dictator Sulla." "A. J. Woodman's translation retains the individualism of the original Latin, while his introduction discusses Sallust's life and political career and his approach lo writing history. This edition includes chronologies, further reading, an index, maps and extensive notes."--Jacket.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.