The historian's problem: the Augustan Paradox -- Death of a dictator -- The crisis of the republic -- Caesar and Pompey -- Mutina: the last battle of the republic -- A victory lost: the defeat of the senate -- The revolution begins -- Death in Rome -- The triumvirs' victory -- The soldiers' peace -- The triumvirs' wars -- Antony and Cleopatra: love and its enemies -- The invention of Augustus -- The Augustan republic -- Anarchy and power -- The Augustan order -- The imperial monarchy -- Death of an emperor -- Cast of characters -- Bibliography.