Modern scholars of antiquity hold the belief that Tacitus, as a serving Roman Senator, had access to the Acta Senatus – a record of lawmaking procedures – as a source for this work. As such, the reliability of the Annals is generally thought strong compared against other, more corrupted histories of the Roman Empire.

Tacitus had low opinions of both Tiberius and Nero. Both worked to sow fear within the general population, or plebiscite, as well as in the higher echelons of Roman society. Tacitus supports his beliefs by narrating various episodes in their respective rules, and is careful to make a distinction between Tiberius – whom he considers to have once been a truly great man, fallen from grace – and Nero, whom he thought an innately despotic man prone to compulsive acts.

This edition of the Annals contains the respected, classic translations by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodbribb, two scholars of the classical period whose knowledge and ability continues to be held in wide regard by scholars and general readers alike.

(A digitized 1906 edition is available for free at Archive.org.)