The book contains the Annals, written by the Roman historian and senator Tacitus. It is a historical account of the Roman Empire from the reign of Tiberius to that of Nero, and this particular volume focuses specifically on sections regarding the reign of Tiberius. The Annals are an important source for modern understanding of the history of the Roman Empire during the 1st century AD. They are Tacitus' final work, and are generally considered to be his greatest writing by modern historians. Historian Ronald Mellor has called the Annals Tacitus's crowning achievement, representing the pinnacle of Roman historical writing.