Product Description

Between 58 and 50BC Caesar conquered most of the area now covered by France, Belgium and Switzerland, and twice invaded Britain. This is the record of his campaigns. Caesar's narrative offers insights into his military strategy & paints a fascinating picture of his encounters with the inhabitant of Gaul and Britain, as well as offering lively portraits of a number of key characters such as the rebel leaders and Gallic chieftains. This can also be read as a piece of political propaganda, as Caesar sets down his version of events for the Roman public, knowing that he faces civil war on his return to Rome.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59374 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-25
• Original language: Latin
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

About the Author
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in 100 BC into an ancient patrician family. Much of his life was spent on military campaigns, & he returned to govern Rome as dictator. His dictatorship was declared perpetual in 44 BC, but his many bitter enemies hatched a conspiracy & assasinated him later that year. S. Handford translated a number of authors for Penguin, including Sallust and Aesop.

Customer Reviews

Enthralling!
As a great fan of Caesar, I loved this. It's surprisingly enthralling once you get into it, but takes a bit of work to start, especially if you're not familiar with the setting and political background.

Originally written as a series of despatches to the Senate back in Rome, it is undoubtedly propaganda created by Caesar to justify his own conquests, and make sly digs at his enemies back in Rome.

Starting with his departure from Rome in 58bc after his consulship, this takes in the battles against the rebellion under Vercongetorix as well as the abortive first invasion of Britain.

It might not be to everyone's taste, but I think Caesar's an elegant and lucid writer who uses understatement as a style factor.

The Penguin volume is excellent, with an easy, free-flowing translations, an introduction outlining the background, a glossary of people and terms, and maps of Gaul. Altogether, a bargain.

Enjoyable and lively translation
I really enjoyed this translation of Julius Caesar's account of his wars against the Gauls a lot more than the original Latin version. Maybe it's because I'm more comfortable with English than Latin..... Room for improvement: I would have liked a few more explanatory notes here and there and maybe a couple of maps of the areas of the campaigns.

Taedet me huius libris...I think
Gallia est in partes divisa tris. Well I'd shred this tome into far more parts than that! Caesar is a uniquely boring writer with a knack for making the most exciting battles into an excruciating protracted yawn. Forsan et haec olim meminesse juvabit! I don't think so.
Dabit deus his quoque finem! but that was Vergil of course.