James Romm

James Romm is one of America’s foremost authorities on the classical world. He studied Classics at Princeton University and earned a master’s in Greek and Latin from Harvard. He was a professor at Bard College, and currently is a James H. Ottoway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard, where he has taught since 1992. His books and articles on the classical world have been widely praised, and his work in the field of classics has won the admiration of many.

James Romm has authored many books and articles on the classics, including his most recent work, “Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire” (Knopf, 2011). His other books include “The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenica” (Pantheon, 2009), “Hellenistic and Roman Sparta: A Tale of Two Cities” (Routledge, 2003), and “The Edges of the Earth: A Journey Around the World” (Crown, 1997). He also has published a series of translations of the works of Greek and Roman authors, including Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, and Juvenal.

In his book “Ghost on the Throne,” Romm examines a pivotal period in the history of the ancient world, the disintegration of Alexander the Great’s massive empire after his death. He tells the story of the various contenders vying for control of the vast realm, introduces the figures of the era, and reveals their often overlooked stories.

Romm also seeks to write with clarity, taking complex history and making it accessible to a wider audience. He is especially successful in this regard in “The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenica,” a two-volume abridgment of the original seven volumes of Xenophon’s work. It follows the course of the Greek city-state of Athens during the struggle between Sparta and the coalition of thebes, corinth and Megara in the 4th century BC. Romm’s work comes with an introduction and ample annotations, providing insight into the events of the time and further information about Xenophon’s text.

Romm’s other works attempt to shed light on the fascinating, little-known aspects of the classical world. In “Hellenistic and Roman Sparta,” Romm looks at the many changes in Sparta from its founding as a Dorian city-state in the 8th century BC to its decline in the Roman period. He uncovers beliefs and customs that have been forgotten or overlooked and shows how Greek and Roman sources have often given us incomplete or distorted views of Sparta.

In “The Edges of the Earth,” Romm carefully crafts an adventurous account of his journey around the world. The experience was like “traveling back in time to the civilizations of the ancient world,” with Romm using his knowledge of the ancient world to provide readers with historical insight into sites around the world.

James Romm offers us an unparalleled view into the fascinating world of the ancients and has earned international admiration. His books and articles have been widely praised, and have ensured his place as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the classical world.