Josephus' telling of the jewish rebellion

[machinor]

I don't know, but he was one of them, iirc. He later on sneaks his way out of having to kill himself like the others and surrenders to the Romans. He justifies that by saying that he had an epiphany and God tolds him he wanted Josephus to survive so that he can spread his glory. Josephus is very self-centered and talks a lot about his personal heroic deeds etc. Kind of a spineless jerk with to a way to big ego, if you ask me.

[Ludens]

Tom Holland reads very well, but I understand he is rather casual with the facts. He certainly doesn't give much space to critical analysis, even after bewailing the fact that so many sources contradict each other, so don't take anything he writes as gospel truth.

[Cimon]

Tom Holland reads very well, but I understand he is rather casual with the facts. He certainly doesn't give much space to critical analysis, even after bewailing the fact that so many sources contradict each other, so don't take anything he writes as gospel truth.

Very true Ludens. I think his writing is more for a "let's get the basic story out there" book than a rigorous historical analysis.

As long as one knows that going in, though, his books are still enjoyable. The reader must just realize that you take away the general story, rather than specifics.

[Dutchhoplite]

I believe Tom Holland is a novelist who decided to try his hand at history. That would explain his style of writing and his loose approach to facts ;)

[Recoil]

I don't know, but he was one of them, iirc. He later on sneaks his way out of having to kill himself like the others and surrenders to the Romans. He justifies that by saying that he had an epiphany and God tolds him he wanted Josephus to survive so that he can spread his glory. Josephus is very self-centered and talks a lot about his personal heroic deeds etc. Kind of a spineless jerk with to a way to big ego, if you ask me.

i had always had the impression that he was driven more by a realization that the jews couldn't drive the romans out of judea and that he wanted to save his people, or is this a propaganda story spread by the romans and josephus himself?