Tacitus lived during some of the most inglorious days of Imperial Rome. He was brave to write anything at all, but did so anyhow. Although it was done with a lingering sense of uneasiness (as he tells us in the Agricola), left over from the perils visited on those who tried a little free speech under the previous government. It is a good thing that he summoned up the courage to do so, because his works are some of the best resources we have on Roman history and the early history of Germany and Great Britain.

Tacitus also wrote the biography of his father-in-law after his premature death, possibly by poison, when he was in his 50's. This work, the Agricola, forms the second part of this little book. It was a labor of love, as well as a tribute to a great man, whose life and work has been undeservedly neglected, both then and now.

Living up to its title, this book really is Handy ! It is short, extremely readable, and has extensive and helpful notes throughout.
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