Marcus Aurelius governed Rome and its empire from 161 to 180 AD. The "Meditations" were written in his old age, composed while on campaign, and provide an insight into the emperor's mind. They reveal, albeit subtly, the personality of the writer: clear-headed, serious, often disillusioned with his own status and with human activities in general. A.S.Farquharson's translation was originally published in 1944, as part of a major commentary on Marcus Aurelius' work. In this volume Farquharson's work is brought up to date and has notes for the general reader. A selection of letters from Marcus to his tutor Fronto, most of which date from his earlier years, is also included and these provide much more personal detail and help to fill out the sombre and selective portrait of the emperor which we find in the Meditations.
