Books with author JACOB ABBOTT

ALFRED THE GREAT figures in history as the founder, in some sense, of the British monarchy. Of that long succession of sovereigns who have held the scepter of that monarchy, and whose government has exerted so vast an influence on the condition and welfare of mankind, he was not, indeed, actually the first. There were several lines of insignificant princes before him, who governed such portions of the kingdom as they individually possessed, more like semi-savage chieftains than English kings. Alfred followed these by the principle of hereditary right, and spent his life in laying broad and deep the foundations on which the enormous superstructure of the British empire has since been reared. If the tales respecting his character and deeds which have come down to us are at all worthy of belief, he was an honest, conscientious, disinterested, and farseeing statesman. If the system of hereditary succession would always furnish such sovereigns for mankind, the principle of loyalty would have held its place much longer in the world than it is now likely to do, and great nations, now republican, would have been saved a vast deal of trouble and toil expended in the election of their rulers.

Roman Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, commonly referred to as ‘Nero,’ ruled the world for thirteen years, from 54 to 68 AD. During his reign, Rome’s theaters and games were heavily patronized. Thousands of innocents were martyred before the mob. Nero himself was widely believed to have caused the Great Fire of Rome - in an attempt to clear some land for a property extension – and to have blamed the disaster’s origins on the Christians. A cruel young tyrant with an Oedipus complex who was generally unpopular with the populace, Nero lived hard and fast and committed suicide at the age of 30. In Nero, historian Jacob Abbott sheds light on the main events and participants in the amazing life story of Ancient Rome’s fifth emperor. Digital edition includes image gallery.

A beautiful introduction to the life and times of King Richard I, or Richard the Lionheart, defender of the English realm and crusader in the holy land. His story is one of adventure and intrigue, thrilling to the unfortunate end. Richly illustrated throughout for an enhanced reading experience.Contents include:King Richard's MotherRichard's Early LifeFair RosamondAccesssion of Richard to the ThroneThe CoronationPreparations for the CrusadeThe EmbarkationKing Richard at MessinaBerengariaThe Campaign in CyprusVoyage to AcreThe Arrival at AcreDifficultiesThe Fall of AcreProgress of the CrusadeReversesThe Old Man of the MountainsThe Battle of JaffaThe TruceThe Departure from PalestineRichard Made CaptiveThe Return to England

Abbott's account of Alexander's life reads like a Greek tragedy. We are reminded of Jesus admonition, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? . Alexander gained the world, but at what cost? Abbott's book is an easy but fascinating read, providing insights and details into the life of one of history's most prominent, yet puzzling, figures. For those who enjoy history and have a love of reading, this book is a delightful treasure.

"Cyrus the Great" is a biography of Cyrus II of Persia (c. 600-530 BC), the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire. Under his rule, which lasted c. 30 years, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Western Asia and much of Central Asia. From the Mediterranean Sea and Hellespont in the west to the Indus River in the east, Cyrus the Great created the largest empire the world had yet seen. He respected the customs and religions of the lands he conquered, which became a very successful model for centralized administration and establishing a government working to the advantage and profit of its subjects. Cyrus the Great has been known for his innovations in building projects; he further developed the technologies that he found in the conquered cultures and applied them in building the palaces of Pasargadae. He is also well recognized for his achievements in human rights, politics, and military strategy, as well as his influence on both Eastern and Western civilizations.