Publius (or: Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. 56 – c. 117) is one of the important historians of Roman Antiquity. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—treat the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those that reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors. Together with the parts that went lost, these two works spanned the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, in 14 to (presumably) the death of emperor Domitian in 96.
Other surviving works by Tacitus treat Oratory (in dialogue format, see Dialogus de oratoribus), Germania (in De origine et situ Germanorum) and biographical notes about his father-in-law Agricola, pictured primarily during his campaign in Britannia (see De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae).
Tacitus' style as a historian is, in his major works, characterised by the treatment of his topics in a year by year chronological progression. As an author living in the latter part of what later was known as the Silver Age of Latin literature, his style is characterised by an uncompromising boldness and sharpness of wit, and a compact and somewhat unconventional use of the Latin language.
More on [ Tacitus ]

Tacitus - Encyclopedia-style article on the historian, with hyperlinks to related topics, and extensive bibliography.
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Tacitus, Cornelius - Biographical article in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. Some scanner errors.
The Tacitus Home Page - A vita, summary of works, and basic bibliography of Cornelius Tacitus, from Steven H. Rutledge, a classics professor at the University of Maryland.
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