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squid_vicious 's review for:
Augustus
by John Williams
Told in the format of fictional letters and journals, Williams put together a biography of Gaius Octavius, better known as Augustus, the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. I knew that I would love this book, both because I am a total sucker for classical history, and because after reading “Stoner” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2034127807), Williams’ talent is not something I question. And he could not have picked a more fascinating subject for his final novel: Augustus was a privileged but bookish young man, and while he had some military training, he was not the warrior his great uncle Julius Caesar was. He inherited Caesar’s titles and estate when he was only nineteen, and surprised pretty much everyone by not only rising to the occasion, but by solidifying his power with remarkable intelligence – and ruthlessness.
Williams begins his narrative a few months before the assassination of Julius Caesar, and covers Augustus’ entire reign, from the early struggles for power with the triumvirate, his military campaigns, his marriage, his friendships and ultimately, his death. If you know your Roman history, none of the events taking place on these pages will surprise you, but the quality of the writing, the strength of the characterization of those well-known historical figures and the depth and range of their human experience makes up for the lack of suspense (always a problem with historical fiction: we know how it ends!).
The epistolary format is beautiful and immersive, but it also means that readers with no background knowledge of Roman history and politics might be a little lost on occasion, as Williams provide little to no exposition – I kept a copy of Plutarch nearby, just in case I blanked out on who did what, when. But if you are already a fan of the so-called makers of Rome, this is a delightful recreation of their style of writing, and a vivid reimagining of key moments of Roman history. The many perspectives on this story also draw a complex, multi-faceted portrait of Augustus, and shows the complicated blend of flaws and strengths that such a man must have been to have reigned over the Empire for as long as he did. I understand why Williams chose to use Augustus’s voice only at the end (more on that later), but I admit I would have liked to see the events through his eyes a few times more.
I have always been fascinated by the eloquence and the intensity of the well-known figures of the early Roman Empire. It’s impossible to read Cicero, Plutarch or even Julius Caesar’s own writing without being awed by the (potentially exaggerated, but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt) verve with which they express themselves and praise or insult each other. Williams was obviously fond of their tone as well, because he captures it in the fictional letters with a realism that impressed me. Compared to some, Augustus as written by Williams is a reserved and cold-seeming man, his strong self-discipline holding back his emotions – but we see that this struggle of mind over passion costs him dearly, especially when it comes to his only daughter Julia.
Julia’s story is that of a woman torn between her duty, as daughter of the Emperor, and her desire to simply live her life. And Augustus’s decisions regarding her are those of a man equally torn between wanting what is best for his beloved city, and what is best for his equally beloved daughter – whom he had nicknamed his “little Rome”. They can seem cold on paper, those two titans of history, but through Julia’s diary entries, Williams summons the strength of their personalities and depth of their feelings masterfully.
The final section, narrated by Augustus, is an incredibly moving reflection on ageing and dying, on looking back at life and seeing things so differently from how we did when we were young.
Just like “Stoner”, this is a great novel, with a quiet and contemplative tone, that fans of historical fiction will love, and fans of good books in general ought to check out. If I have one complain, its that I wished it was longer: I would have loved even more details about Augustus’ reign and the fascinating and intricate characters that surrounded him through his life. I’m going to go re-watch “Rome” now…
Williams begins his narrative a few months before the assassination of Julius Caesar, and covers Augustus’ entire reign, from the early struggles for power with the triumvirate, his military campaigns, his marriage, his friendships and ultimately, his death. If you know your Roman history, none of the events taking place on these pages will surprise you, but the quality of the writing, the strength of the characterization of those well-known historical figures and the depth and range of their human experience makes up for the lack of suspense (always a problem with historical fiction: we know how it ends!).
The epistolary format is beautiful and immersive, but it also means that readers with no background knowledge of Roman history and politics might be a little lost on occasion, as Williams provide little to no exposition – I kept a copy of Plutarch nearby, just in case I blanked out on who did what, when. But if you are already a fan of the so-called makers of Rome, this is a delightful recreation of their style of writing, and a vivid reimagining of key moments of Roman history. The many perspectives on this story also draw a complex, multi-faceted portrait of Augustus, and shows the complicated blend of flaws and strengths that such a man must have been to have reigned over the Empire for as long as he did. I understand why Williams chose to use Augustus’s voice only at the end (more on that later), but I admit I would have liked to see the events through his eyes a few times more.
I have always been fascinated by the eloquence and the intensity of the well-known figures of the early Roman Empire. It’s impossible to read Cicero, Plutarch or even Julius Caesar’s own writing without being awed by the (potentially exaggerated, but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt) verve with which they express themselves and praise or insult each other. Williams was obviously fond of their tone as well, because he captures it in the fictional letters with a realism that impressed me. Compared to some, Augustus as written by Williams is a reserved and cold-seeming man, his strong self-discipline holding back his emotions – but we see that this struggle of mind over passion costs him dearly, especially when it comes to his only daughter Julia.
Julia’s story is that of a woman torn between her duty, as daughter of the Emperor, and her desire to simply live her life. And Augustus’s decisions regarding her are those of a man equally torn between wanting what is best for his beloved city, and what is best for his equally beloved daughter – whom he had nicknamed his “little Rome”. They can seem cold on paper, those two titans of history, but through Julia’s diary entries, Williams summons the strength of their personalities and depth of their feelings masterfully.
The final section, narrated by Augustus, is an incredibly moving reflection on ageing and dying, on looking back at life and seeing things so differently from how we did when we were young.
Just like “Stoner”, this is a great novel, with a quiet and contemplative tone, that fans of historical fiction will love, and fans of good books in general ought to check out. If I have one complain, its that I wished it was longer: I would have loved even more details about Augustus’ reign and the fascinating and intricate characters that surrounded him through his life. I’m going to go re-watch “Rome” now…