Product Description

A military leader of legendary genius, Caesar was also a great writer, recording the events of his life with incomparable immediacy and power. The Civil War is a tense and gripping depiction of his struggle with Pompey over the leadership of Republican Rome – a conflict that spanned the entire Roman world, from Gaul and Spain to Asia and Africa. Where Caesar’s own account leaves off in 48 BC, his lieutenants take up the history, describing the vital battles of Munda, Spain and Thapsus, and the installation of Cleopatra, later Caesar’s mistress, as Queen of Egypt. Together these narratives paint a full picture of the events that brought Caesar supreme power – and paved the way for his assassination only months later.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64551 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-05
• Original language: Latin
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

About the Author
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in 100BC into an ancient patrician family. He was imprisoned for a time with his familly, for protesting against the then leadership of Sulla, but advanced slowly through the sixties rising to the rank of praetor and forming the 'first triumvirate' with Pompey and Crassus. Elected consul in 59BC, he then became Governor for Transalpine Gaul. After the death of Crassus and the defeat of Pompey in 45BC, Caesar returned to Rome as dictator. He was assassinated in March 44BC. Jane Gardner received degrees in Classics from Glasgow and Oxford Universities and was Senior Lecturer in Classics at Reading University. She is the author of, among others, Women in Roman Law and Society and The Roman Household: A Sourcebook.

Customer Reviews

Incredible epic
Caesar, it is believed, wrote this account of the first part of the civil wars: the war between him and Pompey. Yes: `Caesar actually wrote this!' I kept repeating to myself as I read it (Wow, this was written by Caesar, can you believe it? Caesar wrote this, and now I am reading it...). But even if you don't share such childish obsessions, this is well worth looking at. The divine Julius was as good a story-teller as a politician and general, and this is one of the most readable works by any ancient writer I have tried. The battles are described with great realism, both ordinary soldiers' and the general's everyday concerns come across convincingly, and the broader picture is kept alive in a highly coherent narrative.

Caesar's story focuses on the military events, with some, though limited references to the political side. Unfortunately, the beginning of Book I was lost, which would have contained more on the political origins of the civil war. And of course, there is no telling how much is propaganda, how much outright invention, and how much is true. We don't have Pompey's version, though Cicero, who was not on Caesar's side, did provide some corroboration. Thus Caesar always claims to have been the most magnanimous, loyal, and truthful leader, and always ready to negotiate peace, while his enemies were greedy and timorous. Nevertheless, this is an account of the highest quality. As a bonus, the introduction has excellent basic notes on the political context, the Roman constitution, and Roman military organisation. Three texts by anonymous ancient authors, also in this edition, continue with the war in Egypt, Africa, and Spain.