The War with Catiline - Sallust | Limited Edition Classical History

Gaius Sallustius Crispus, widely anglicised as Sallust (c. 86–35 BC), stands as a pivotal figure in Roman historiography and political life during the late Republic. Born in Amiternum, in Sabine territory, he rose from a provincial plebeian background to become a notable Roman historian and politician. His early political ascent saw him become plebeian tribune in 52 BC and later align with Julius Caesar during the Civil War era.

Sallust is celebrated as the earliest Latin-language Roman historian whose complete works have survived. His enduring contributions include two major monographs: The Conspiracy of Catiline (Bellum Catilinae), which meticulously investigates the failed coup of 63 BC and the moral corruption of Rome's elite, and The Jugurthine War (Bellum Jugurthinum), which chronicles the conflict between Rome and King Jugurtha of Numidia (112–106 BC), revealing pervasive senatorial bribery and decline. Although his larger work, The Histories (covering 78–67 BC), survives only in fragments, it remains a critical source for understanding the turbulent transformation of the Republic.

Stylistically, Sallust was deeply influenced by the Greek historian Thucydides, favoring concise, analytical narrative and character-driven insights into the moral failings of political figures and institutions. His works provided a model for later Roman historiography and shaped how subsequent generations understood the Republic's final days.

Politically, Sallust benefited from his loyalty to Caesar. After serving as praetor in 46 BC and contributing to the African campaign, he was appointed proconsular governor of Africa Nova. He amassed substantial wealth—infamously using ill-gotten gains to create the luxurious Gardens of Sallust on Rome's Quirinal Hill. Accused of corruption and extortion, he narrowly escaped prosecution thanks to Caesar's influence. Disillusioned with political life, he retired to his gardens, devoting his remaining years to historical writing, where his bitterness toward the Roman elite is often evident in his critical tone

DESCRIPTION

The presented Rambler edition of Sallust’s The War with Catiline is published in English, based on the 1921 translation by the American historian and Latinist John C. Rolfe (1859–1943). Conceived in the spirit of The Doves Press (1900–1916), it reflects the same tradition of elegant restraint and typographic purity. The work is set in Doves Roman and printed on Fabriano Tiepolo cotton paper, produced in octavo format (162.5 × 250 mm) with a total of 112 pages. The book is hand-bound, and issued in a strictly limited edition of only 25 numbered copies, bringing together Sallust’s enduring account of Catiline’s conspiracy with the ideals of fine printing and classical scholarship.