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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Actually didn't expect to love this as much as I did. So good. Clearly lots.of research behind it. Love love love.
Also we shouldn't call this genre "historical fiction" when it's just fanfiction with literary value
Also we shouldn't call this genre "historical fiction" when it's just fanfiction with literary value
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gaius Octavius (later named Augustus Caesar) is only 19 years-old when his uncle and adoptive father, Julius Caesar, is assassinated. With the help of his fellow young comrades, he must outmaneuver the treacherous political landscape of Ancient Rome and claim his title as the first Roman emperor. William’s chronicles the young emperor’s ascent to power through to his reflective, last years.
Though he is the titular character, we’re only allowed fractured accounts of Octavius. Williams’ tells this historical fiction through the epistolary form: fully through letters, journal entries, and written proclamations. The differing accounts created a cinematic experience often making me question the objective truth; mirroring the funny, impersonal way we look at historical figures today. This results in a kaleidoscopic view of what makes a man and a leader; one that is constantly at odds between duty and personal desire.
I loved all three sections for differing reasons. I enjoyed the cinematic quality of Book I where I would literally gasp at the end of chapters. Book II was a powerful reflection on how power dynamics show up for the women. How they must maneuver differently in this world compared to the brutish power-jockeying their male counterparts weaponize, how they're made the pawns and often are left in the wake of men's violence. Julia's reflections were such an emotional core of powerlessness and duty although she is the most powerful woman in Rome. Williams' decision to revive a stripped-from-the-history account was such a strong statement. And I loved the final chapter when we finally hear from Octavius as he reflects on the contrariness of man and his self-sacrifice. What stood out to me in his chapter was also how he never truly understands Julia. He sees her from the perspective of a man; treacherous and duplicitous versus as a woman who has never felt her own freedom. They are so similar in their restraints, but he's unable to understand her. Heartbreaking.
I don’t think you need to be very informed on Ancient Rome to enjoy this as I wasn’t at all. Williams’ execution is remarkably readable and created a dynamic, sweeping view of Ancient Rome. The structure and voices made me feel like an insider on the juiciest, dramatic Roman gossip.
The clever plotting, immense research, and straight-forward yet impactful prose are just a few things that made this a standout for me. Not to mention the stark themes. This has joined my tiny list of five stars and has bolstered prioritizing the rest of Williams’ small body of work sooner rather than later.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Augustus is a perfectly written, surprisingly moving epistolary novel about the life of Caesar Augustus. Williams pulls off a magic trick here, telling an engrossing and compelling story of the first Emperor of Rome through personal drama. The world-altering historical events are a backdrop here. This is a book about the man and, to a lesser extent, his daughter.
The phrase “It does not matter” is a recurring motif. It reduces the events of the story to footnotes, and in the process the characters are elevated.
The despair that I have voiced seems to me now unworthy of what I have done. Rome is not eternal; it does not matter. Rome will fall; it does not matter. The barbarian will conquer; it does not matter. There was a moment of Rome.
Williams is a masterful writer. Each character writes with a distinctive voice, and you find youself feeling who is writing through voice alone. And the writing style is impeccable. I’m not versed enough it the world of Roman classics to identify this myself, but my child (who is) tells me Williams is using patterns here closely connected to Latin rhetorical style of the time.
Augustus has a core theme of inevitability: the inevitability of the Roman Empire itself, and its inevitable fall. And also of impermanence and perhaps even futility. These are surprising themes for a book about the rise of the empire.
Do they know that before us lies a road at the end of which is either death or greatness? The two words go around in my head, around and around, until it seems they are the same.
I love this book enough to immediately listen to the audiobook. And I’m sure I’ll read it again.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I saw echoes of Stoner in Augustus despite the superficial differences in formal approach. This is most evident in the final section in the emperor's own voice, but throughout there's a kind of wistful melancholy and dedication to a cause at significant personal cost. The epistolary approach in multiple voices is handled very well and you get enough historical details without getting bogged down in them. I think it's a terrific achievement as a novel and justifiably getting another life forty years after its original publication.
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Magistral, é só o que me ocorre dizer. O National Book Award muito bem entregue.
Com uma estrutura fora do comum, um romance histórico que nos deixa uma visão muito própria acerca de alguém com um sentido de dever levado aos limites - aquele que é considerado com tendo sido o maior imperador romano, César Augusto.
Para alguém, como eu, que adora história e Roma, este livro foi uma muito agradável surpresa.
A ler, definitivamente.
Com uma estrutura fora do comum, um romance histórico que nos deixa uma visão muito própria acerca de alguém com um sentido de dever levado aos limites - aquele que é considerado com tendo sido o maior imperador romano, César Augusto.
Para alguém, como eu, que adora história e Roma, este livro foi uma muito agradável surpresa.
A ler, definitivamente.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No