Philip Freeman

En este fascinante ensayo, Philip Freeman retrata una de las figuras militares más legendarias de la antigüedad: Aníbal Barca. Desde su juramento de eterno odio a Roma hasta su audaz marcha a través

Más de dos mil años después de su muerte, Julio César sigue siendo uno de los personajes históricos más sobresalientes. Su figura ha marcado Roma durante generaciones y su nombre se ha convertido en sinonimo de Emperador, incluso en lugares tan lejanos como Alemania o Rusia. Conocido por ser el general que vencio a los galos y duplico los territorios conquistados de Roma, Philip Freeman tambien lo muestra como un orador brillante, un consumado escritor y un habilidoso politico. Julio Cesar fue un hombre complejo. Su caracter estuvo marcado por el coraje y el honor, pero tambien por la ambicion y la vanidad. Nacido en el seno de una familia noble en decadencia, comenzo su carrera como sacerdote y su astucia lo llevo a convertirse en el general que lidero Roma. Hizo alianzas con sus enemigos y los abandono cuando ya habian servido a sus propositos. Fue el portavoz del pueblo romano, pero vivio de forma opulenta gracias a las ganancias derivadas de sus conquistas. Su muerte se ha convertido en uno de los asesinatos mas famosos de la historia. Entre los contemporaneos de Cesar tambien se incluyen algunas de las figuras mas destacables de la historia de Roma, como los generales Mario, Sila y Pompeyo, el orador y legislador Ciceron, los jovenes politicos Marco Antonio y Octavio (despues conocido como Cesar Augusto) o la reina egipcia Cleopatra. En esta esplendida biografia Freeman presenta a Julio Cesar con todas sus contradicciones. Con una claridad y brevedad destacables, Freeman muestra como Cesar domino una nueva y poderosa Roma y como marco su destino. Elegante, aleccionador y de lectura compulsiva, Julio Cesar va de lo general al deta

Aunque la figura del patrón de Irlanda se ha visto envuelta por la leyenda, lo cierto es que la verdadera historia de San Patricio es más atractiva aún que los mitos que se le atribuyen. En San Patricio de Irlanda, Philip Freeman da vida al Patricio historico y a su epoca con gran agilidad, permitiendole hablar con su propia voz, con una nueva traduccion de las dos excepcionales cartas en las que expuso su biografia y sus creencias, y que todavia hoy sorprenden por su pasion y elocuencia.La vida de Patricio, nacido a finales del siglo IV en una familia de la aristocracia britana, cambio radicalmente cuando fue secuestrado y llevado a Irlanda justo antes de cumplir los dieciseis años. Tras seis años de terrible esclavitud, esa prueba le transformo, y paso de ser ateo a convertirse en un cristiano entusiasta. Despues de una vision en la que Dios le revelo que volveria a su hogar, escapo de la cautividad y, tras un viaje plagado de peligros, regreso a Britania indemne, para el asombro de su familia. Esa sorpresa seria aun mayor cuando les confeso que tenia la intencion de viajar de nuevo a Irlanda, para dedicar el resto de su vida a convertir a las mismas personas que le habian esclavizado.Sobre el turbulento escenario de unas islas britanicas en los ultimos años del Imperio romano, San Patricio de Irlanda da vida de forma brillante al autentico Patricio, despojado de su leyenda, y presenta al hombre cuya profunda determinacion espiritual contribuyo a convertir a todo un pais.

"Lively and lucid." The New York Times Book ReviewThe most authoritative modern biography of the patron saint of Ireland, focusing on the historical Patrick and his times.Irelands patron saint has long been shrouded in legend, but the true story of St. Patrick is far more inspiring than the myths. In St. Patrick of Ireland, Philip Freeman brings the historic Patrick and his world vividly to life. Patrick speaks in his own voice in two remarkable letters he wrote about himself and his beliefs, new translations of which are included here and which are still astonishing for their passion and eloquence.Born late in the fourth century to an aristocratic British family, Patricks life was changed forever when he was abducted and taken to Ireland just before his sixteenth birthday. He spent six grueling years there as a slave, but the ordeal turned him from an atheist into a true believer. After a vision in which God told him he would go home, Patrick escaped captivity and, following a perilous journey, returned safely to Britain to the amazement of his family. But even more amazing to them was his announcement that he intended to go back to Ireland to spend the rest of his life ministering to the people who had once enslaved him.Set against the turbulent backdrop of the British Isles during the last years of the Roman Empire, St. Patrick of Ireland brilliantly brings to life the real Patrick, a man whose deep spiritual conviction and devotion helped to transform a country.

Telling the story of a man who stood against the overwhelming power of the mighty Roman empire, Hannibal is the biography of a man who, against all odds, dared to change the course of history. Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Romes growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal, consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp? Hannibal appeals to many as the ultimate underdoga Carthaginian David against the Goliath of Romebut it wasnt just his genius on the battlefield that set him apart. As a boy and then a man, his self-discipline and determination were legendary. As a military leader, like Alexander the Great before him and Julius Caesar after, he understood the hearts of men and had an uncanny ability to read the unseen weaknesses of his enemy. As a commander in war, Hannibal has few equals in history and has long been held as a model of strategic and tactical genius. But Hannibal was much more than just a great general. He was a practiced statesman, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country. Roman historianson whom we rely for almost all our information on Hannibalportray him as a cruel barbarian, but how does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthaginian point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman writers who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? Can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way not as the noble and benign defenders of civilization but as ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and conquest?

A young Irish nun finds herself the guardian of a mysterious manuscript claiming to be the lost gospel of Mary, when she realizes that church authorities are willing to kill to get their hands on it . . .An old and dying nun has turned up at Deirdres monastery in Ireland with an ancient manuscript on a papyrus roll. When Deirdre reads the first line, she realizes it claims to be a previously unknown gospel written by Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church authorities in Rome have been seeking to destroy this gospel for centuries, claiming it is a forgery that threatens the very foundations of the faith. Deirdre begins to translate the gospel, but when a delegate of the pope arrives in Kildare searching for the text, she must set out across Ireland seeking safety as the church and its henchmen are hot on her trail. What does the gospel say? And why is the church so afraid of it?

A fascinating, comprehensive biography of the cunning Roman conqueror Julius Caesar.More than two thousand years after his death, Julius Caesar remains one of the great figures of history. He shaped Rome for generations, and his name became a synonym for emperornot only in Rome but as far away as Germany and Russia. He is best known as the general who defeated the Gauls and doubled the size of Romes territories. But, as Philip Freeman describes in this fascinating new biography, Caesar was also a brilliant orator, an accomplished writer, a skilled politician, and much more.Julius Caesar was a complex man, both hero and villain. He possessed great courage, ambition, honor, and vanity. Born into a noble family that had long been in decline, he advanced his career cunningly, beginning as a priest and eventually becoming Romes leading general. He made alliances with his rivals and then discarded them when it suited him. He was a spokesman for the ordinary people of Rome, who rallied around him time and again, but he profited enormously from his conquests and lived opulently. Eventually he was murdered in one of the most famous assassinations in history.Caesars contemporaries included some of Romes most famous figures, from the generals Marius, Sulla, and Pompey to the orator and legislator Cicero as well as the young politicians Mark Antony and Octavius (later Caesar Augustus). Caesars legendary romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra still fascinates us today.In this splendid biography, Freeman presents Caesar in all his dimensions and contradictions. With remarkable clarity and brevity, Freeman shows how Caesar dominated a newly powerful Rome and shaped its destiny. This book will captivate readers discovering Caesar and ancient Rome for the first time as well as those who have a deep interest in the classical world.

Early in the first century B.C. a Greek philosopher named Posidonius began an ambitious and dangerous journey into the little-known lands of the Celts. A man of great intellectual curiosity and considerable daring, Posidonius traveled from his home on the island of Rhodes to Rome, the capital of the expanding empire that had begun to dominate the Mediterranean. From there Posidonius planned to investigate for himself the mysterious Celts, reputed to be cannibals and savages. His journey would be one of the great adventures of the ancient world. Posidonius journeyed deep into the heart of the Celtic lands in Gaul. There he discovered that the Celts were not barbarians but a sophisticated people who studied the stars, composed beautiful poetry, and venerated a priestly caste known as the Druids. Celtic warriors painted their bodies, wore pants, and decapitated their foes. Posidonius was amazed at the Celtic women, who enjoyed greater freedoms than the women of Rome, and was astonished to discover that women could even become Druids. Posidonius returned home and wrote a book about his travels among the Celts, which became one of the most popular books of ancient times. His work influenced Julius Caesar, who would eventually conquer the people of Gaul and bring the Celts into the Roman Empire, ending forever their ancient way of life. Thanks to Posidonius, who could not have known that he was recording a way of life soon to disappear, we have an objective, eyewitness account of the lives and customs of the ancient Celts.

In ancient Ireland, an island ruled by kings and druids, the nuns of Saint Brigid are fighting to keep their monastery alive. When the bones of Brigid go missing from their church, the theft threatens to destroy all they have worked for. No one knows the danger they face better than Sister Deirdre, a young nun torn between two worlds.Trained as a bard and raised by a druid grandmother, she must draw upon all of her skills, both as a bard and as a nun, to find the bones before the convent begins to lose faith.

Accessible, fast-paced retellings of the most important classical Greek and Roman myths, adapted for middle graders.Ancient myths continue to have modern relevancefor thousands of years they have been the basis for plays, operas, paintings, and movies. And in these retellings from acclaimed writer and scholar Philip Freeman, classic tales from Greek and Roman mythology find new life and inspire aspiring writers, artists, and musicians. Adapted from the lengthier Oh My Gods and specially tailored to a younger audience, these irresistible stories of philandering gods, flawed heroes, and tragic lovers portray the fundamental aspects of humanity and are filled with entertaining drama and valuable insights. Sixty dramatic illustrations enliven the book.

Someone is killing the nuns of Ireland.The grisly discovery of an elderly sister of Saint Brigids monastery strangled, bled dry, and thrown into a bog is just the beginning. Soon a beautiful young nun is found decapitated and hung from a barren tree. It doesnt take long before the members of the struggling monastic community of Kildare realize that not only are the nuns being hunted by a serial killer, but the murderer is preforming the gruesome slayings in the manner of the ancient druid sacrifices.Set in the turmoil of sixth-century Ireland, where ruthless tribal kings wage constant war for survival and the powerful religious order of the druids is threatened by the newly-arrived Christian church, the desperate task of finding the killer falls to Sister Deirdre, a young women torn between the world of the monastery and her own druidic heritage. Unless Deirdre can find the killer before the cycle of sacrifices is complete, more of her friends will die, the monastery will face destruction, and the whole of Ireland may be plunged into civil war.

What does jazz mean 20 years into the 21st century? Has streaming culture rendered music literally meaningless, thanks to the removal of all context beyond the playlist? Are there any traditions left to explore? Has the destruction of the apprenticeship model (young musicians learning from their elders) changed the music irrevocably? Are any sounds off limits? How far out can you go and still call it jazz? Or should the term be retired? These questions, and many more, are answered in Ugly Beauty, as Phil Freeman digs through his own experiences and conversations with present-day players. Jazz has never seemed as vital as it does right now, and has a genuine role to play in 21st-century culture, particularly in the US and the UK.

In the first authoritative biography of Alexander the Great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian Philip Freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from Hannibal to Napoleon, with countless more in between. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly: crowned at age nineteen, dead by thirty-two. He established the greatest empire of the ancient world; Greek coins and statues are found as far east as Afghanistan. Our interest in him has never faded. Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Alexander spent nearly all his adult life away from his homeland, and he and his men helped spread the Greek language throughout western Asia, where it would become the lingua franca of the ancient world. Within a short time after Alexanders death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture. Best known among his successors are the Ptolemies of Egypt, whose empire lasted until Cleopatra. In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexanders astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losingwhich he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire. Only a handful of people have influenced history as Alexander did, which is why he continues to fascinate us.

From acclaimed writer and scholar Philip Freeman, a contemporary retelling of classic Greek and Roman mythology.The Greek and Roman myths have never died out; in fact they are as relevant today as ever in their sharp observations about human nature. For thousands of years they have inspired plays, operas, and paintings; today they live on in movies and video games. Oh My Gods is a contemporary retelling of some of the most popular myths by Philip Freeman, a noted classicist. These tales of errant gods, fantastic creatures, and human heroes are brought to life in fresh and modern versions. Powerful Zeus; his perpetually aggrieved wife, Hera; talented Apollo; beautiful Aphrodite; fierce Athena; the dauntless heroes Theseus and Hercules; and the doomed lovers Orpheus and Eurydice still inspire awe, give us courage, and break our hearts. From the astonishing tales of the Argonauts to the immortal narrative of the Battle of Troy, these ancient tales have inspired writers from Shakespeare to J. K. Rowling. In Philip Freemans vibrant retelling they will doubtless inspire a new generation of readers.

In "Rites and Ritual: A Plea for Apostolic Doctrine and Worship," Philip Freeman embarks on a profound exploration of the significance of liturgical practices within the framework of early Christian teachings. Freemans literary style seamlessly intertwines theological rigor with accessible prose, appealing to both scholarly audiences and laypersons alike. The book situates itself within a contemporary discourse on the relevance of traditional rites in modern worship, invoking a rich historical context that traces the roots of these practices back to the apostolic era. By meticulously analyzing the elements of worship, Freeman advocates for a return to foundational doctrines as a means to deepen faith and community engagement. Philip Freeman, a scholar known for his expertise in religious studies, draws on his extensive background in both history and theology to craft this work. His previous publications reflect a deep commitment to examining the interplay between belief systems and societal practices. His interest in the apostolic traditions stemmed from extensive research into the early church, where he recognized the transformative power of ritual in forming communal identity and spiritual grounding. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the importance of integrating historical doctrines into contemporary worship. Freemans thoughtful examination not only enriches theological discourse but also invites readers to reflect on their own worship practices, encouraging a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity.

Cicerón es, para la mayoría de nosotros, una referencia del mundo clásico: un gran estadista romano, de lectura reservada hoy a los especialistas. Philip Freeman nos ha descubierto, sin embargo, su sorprendente modernidad, en este libro en que selecciona, reune y comenta sus mejores textos sobre temas como el liderazgo, la corrupcion, los impuestos, la guerra, la inmigracion o la importancia del compromiso. La traduccion va acompañada ademas de los textos latinos originales, para que los que tengan alguna nocion de la lengua puedan disfrutar de su extraordinaria calidad literaria, y de una serie de complementos que facilitan su comprension. El resultado son unas paginas de lectura lucida y refrescante en que, como dijo John Adams, el segundo presidente de los Estados Unidos: "Cambiad los nombres, y cada anecdota resulta aplicable a la actualidad".