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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
A very satisfying account of Julius Caesar's life with a heavy emphasis on his military campaigns. It was especially informative on how he was overthrow a republican plutocracy using populist programs targeting the lower and middle class (and soldiers especially) which is exactly what I was curious about!
Early last year a friend, an ancient history buff, loaned me this book. After 11 months of hestistancy, I looked past it's imposing size and took hold of it, and ravaged it over 2 weeks.
Goldsworthy has written a marvelous timeline of Caesar's life. Several times he sets limits on his writing, not wanting to bend to conjecture or even soft assumptions. Looking over the bibliography, it is amazing just how many sources and books he dissected.
Goldsworthy fundamentally change the way I looked at Caesar. Consider the 10 year span of dictorial rule, the chain reaction of several wars sparking at once, the civil discord between Pompey's forces and Caesar's before the passing of the Rubicon. I became to really appreciate the compressed events and blind luck involved in some of these events.
I think this book works best for someone who has a significant interest in Caesar, and a strong background in Roman history. Goldsworthy is so narrowly limited in his subject matter, he never writes much about how Caesar had much of an effect on other aspects of Roman Life. The writing style is a bit much too, it can be wearing because the book reads as so factually based, that there is little room for reviewing, summarizing, or insight into Caesar's actions.
Maybe I just want every novel to be like "Team of Rivals" haha.
Anyone, worth checking out, but might be better as a fact checking resource than a straight through read.
Goldsworthy has written a marvelous timeline of Caesar's life. Several times he sets limits on his writing, not wanting to bend to conjecture or even soft assumptions. Looking over the bibliography, it is amazing just how many sources and books he dissected.
Goldsworthy fundamentally change the way I looked at Caesar. Consider the 10 year span of dictorial rule, the chain reaction of several wars sparking at once, the civil discord between Pompey's forces and Caesar's before the passing of the Rubicon. I became to really appreciate the compressed events and blind luck involved in some of these events.
I think this book works best for someone who has a significant interest in Caesar, and a strong background in Roman history. Goldsworthy is so narrowly limited in his subject matter, he never writes much about how Caesar had much of an effect on other aspects of Roman Life. The writing style is a bit much too, it can be wearing because the book reads as so factually based, that there is little room for reviewing, summarizing, or insight into Caesar's actions.
Maybe I just want every novel to be like "Team of Rivals" haha.
Anyone, worth checking out, but might be better as a fact checking resource than a straight through read.
Goldsworthy is a colossus among modern Classicists. Think you know Caesar? Read it!
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This was a brilliant read. Goldsworthy presents good history in a well paced narrative. I came to this book familiar with the subject hoping to learn a. Little more. I learnt a lot more and will now read more from this author. Worth your time.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This monumental biography of Caesar, a long tome and scholarly enough to render it slow-go at times, is a fantastic introduction to the end of the Roman republic and the opening to the age of the twelve Caesars. If you are interested in the Roman Empire, this is a great and comprehensive starting point for the non-academic reader.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
slow-paced
An amazing biography of a distant but still familiar figure. The author puts into context all the assumptions that are made about Caesar and his actions. He clearly marks out areas where historical sources (Suetonius, Livy, Plutarch, and apparently Cicero's abundant gossip) differ and assigns good causes for his take on the sources.
Like any good biography this book will give you not only Caesar's life but also a detailed account of his times and the cultural impulses that motivated his actions. A balanced read that doesn't deify or villify Caesar unnecessarily.
Like any good biography this book will give you not only Caesar's life but also a detailed account of his times and the cultural impulses that motivated his actions. A balanced read that doesn't deify or villify Caesar unnecessarily.