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TACITUS, Histories Book II. Edited by R. Ash. Cambridge University Press, 2007. XV,415p. Paperback. Series: Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics. 'Ash states in her introduction, '...it is the aim of this commentary to enrich students' understanding of Tacitus Histories 2 at whatever point they encounter the text. The goal throughout has been to elucidate how Tacitus' style and arrangement of material impose meaning on complex historical events' (vii). In this review, I will try to assess how successful Ash is achieving this goal, while also examining other aspects of the commentary. Preceding the text and commentary is an introduction divided into eleven separate sections. The first section is a very brief biography of Tacitus. This is followed by an overview of historiography as a genre, then a section on civil war and Roman identity. After discussing these broader themes, the introduction moves on to Book II of the Histories. A brief overview prefaces a list of the dramatis personae, dividing the various characters of the book into 'Othonians,' 'Vitellians,' 'Flavians,' and 'Others.' To me, the designation 'Others' seems somewhat ambiguous, and perhaps this information could have been expanded into an appendix. Nevertheless, the classification could be helpful, especially to students with no background to the material. This is followed by a discussion of Tacitean style. In particular, Ash is interested in wordplay and puns on names, a feature which will recur throughout the commentary. Next is a study of 'sententiae and moralising allusions,' succeeded by discussions of Tacitus' sources, the parallel tradition, and pro-Flavian historiography. The last section elucidates the textual tradition and includes a list of deviations in Ash's text from the 1978 Teubner of Heubner. (...) Ash also points out elements in the book which allude to previous ideas or suggest ring composition. (...) Other nice touches are the aforementioned attention drawn to wordplay and plays on names. (...) In conclusion, I am grateful to the editors of the Cambridge series for continuing to publish quality commentaries for senior undergraduate and graduate level Latin courses. These commentaries, including the one under review, provide adequate help for students while also allowing teachers the opportunity to initiate scholarly discussions of the material. These books are not only useful in the classroom, but outside as well. Ash's commentary on Book II of the Histories will no doubt find itself on the bookshelf of Tacitean scholars alongside the previous volumes in the series.' (REBECCA EDWARDS in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2008.10.34). € 31.50 (New) ISBN: 9780521891356