The Letters of Cassiodorus Being a Condensed Translation of the Variae Epistolae of Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator

"The Letters of Cassiodorus" by Senator Cassiodorus is a compilation of translated letters, offering a window into the 6th century, particularly the rule of Theodoric the Great. These letters, a shortened version of the 'Variae Epistolae,' shed light on the political scene of the time, revealing the interactions between Roman and Teutonic societies during a period of significant change. The translator, Thomas Hodgkin, describes his method of condensing Cassiodorus' wordy style, making the crucial information accessible to those curious about the workings and cultural complexities of Italy during that era, and highlighting his aim to preserve main details in order to make the text easily understandable by readers interested in the governance and societal structure of 6th-century Italy.