The Letters of Cassiodorus

About the book

Cassiodorus's Variae preserve letters and administrative documents associated with his service under the Ostrogothic rulers of Italy. They address appointments, justice, taxation, public works, diplomatic relations, and other practical concerns of government, offering a view of Roman institutions continuing under changed political authority. This volume is Thomas Hodgkin's condensed English rendering, supported by an introduction and explanatory material; it does not reproduce every letter in full. The range of official business brings the period into focus through particular instructions and disputes rather than a continuous narrative of kings and battles. It also reveals the language through which rulers wished their power to appear orderly, legitimate, and beneficial, making administrative detail a source for understanding political ideals.

• Government and administration
• Roman continuity
• Political authority

Why read it

Read it for the everyday business behind a major historical transition, with the edition's abridged scope clearly in view.

Condensed English translation by Thomas Hodgkin