SYMHC Classics: Theodosia Burr Alston

This magisterial history, written by Edward Gibbon, covers the peak of the Roman Empire, the history of early Christianity, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and the rise and fall of various other empires and civilizations up to the fall of Byzantium in 1453. Gibbon's work is renowned for its thorough scholarship, diverse sources, and engaging prose. He argues that the Roman Empire succumbed to barbarian invasions partly due to the gradual loss of civic virtue among its citizens and critiques the role of Christianity in the empire's decline. The work was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1789 and has remained a seminal work in historical literature despite some criticisms from modern scholars[2][4][5].

Burr is a historical novel by Gore Vidal that explores the life of Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States. The story is told through the eyes of Charles Schuyler, a young law clerk who becomes Burr's biographer. The novel delves into Burr's past, including his duel with Alexander Hamilton and his trial for treason, while also critiquing the traditional narratives of American history.