Julius Caesar (New Folger Library Shakespeare)

Book Description

Folger Shakespeare Library

The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies

Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early

printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essay by Coppélia Kahn

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs.

Customer Reviews:

Another enjoyable history lesson........2007-05-24

As with so many of Shakespeare's history and tragedy plays, this one is a wonderful history lesson. It is also a wonderful character portrayal of some well-known historical figures. Brutus is a fine example of one of Shakespeare's most wonderfully portrayed tragic figures. Brutus is the true hero of this tragic play. There are lots of wonderful soliliquays, and the language used is just beautiful. A wonderful play to re-read.

The Power Of Language.......2007-05-16

Julius Caesar is murdered very shortly into this play so while he bears the title the play is about the conspirators and the supporters of caesar and the struggle for power that comes after his asassination. The power of language to persude the masses and the fickle nature of crowds are only a few of the themes that Shakespeare explores.

Shakespeare explores the nature of tyranny, politics and absolute power in ways that must have been remarkably risky and controversial in his day.

Someone below noted that we have come to believe that the events as Shakespeare crafted them in his play are how this really happened. "Et Tu Brutus", etc. This is one of the better known and more widely read of Shakespeare's works and is the way many middle school kids are introduced to Shakespeare (maybe rivaled by Romeo and Juliet).

That said it is a fine drama and after multiple readings will still yield something new to think about or some new phrase that will stick in the readers mind.

When Brutus and Antony each deliver their respective addresses to the crowd following Caesar's death Shakespeare demonstrates a universal truth that people can be persuaded by words and the body politic is susceptable to a good propogandist. As true today as it was then.

Julius Ceasar.......2006-05-24

Julius Caesar
Author: William Shakespeare, 1623
By: Cameron Jones

What would you do if the only people that you trusted on this earth betrayed you? How would you feel if the only friends you had killed you? What would you feel if no one cared anymore about you and wanted you to be gone? Well imagine living in 100 B.C Rome as dictator for life and you were hated. That's the kind of life that Julius Caesar had to live.

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, and later died on the same date. The only way that they found this out is because Caesar died on the same day he was born. Shakespeare died at 52 years of age.

Caesar resided in the city of Rome where he was dubbed as dictator for life. He was offered King of Rome but declined it due to the fact he didn't want people referring to him as "King". So the main characters of the book, Brutus the friend that betrays Caesar for the sake of Rome, and Cassius the horrible mastermind of the murder get Caesar to go to the capital for a dispute that needs to be settled. Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, told him not to go, that she had a dream of him being the statue of the water fountain and instead of water coming out of him there was blood pouring out of him. But being the man that he was, he was persuaded anyway instead of taking his wife's word for it. So Brutus and Caesar walk into the capital were there was a group of conspirators waiting to stab him repeatedly all over his body. Mark-Antony, Caesar's friend heard about the horrible news and ran away fearing that he would be next. Brutus sent news to Antony telling him that there was no need to run that they wasn't going to harm him and that he needed to come back so that they could have a talk about what happened. Antony returns but not for a little chit-chat but for revenge for his best friend! Antony on the way back home met with a man named Octavius, and he would soon join the army of Antony. While news was sent back home telling Brutus and Cassius that Antony and his new added piece to the chessboard was going to declare was on them! So there was four different army fronts with Brutus one leader and Cassius another, and on the other side there was Antony and Octavius as leaders of each of their men.

Now who will walk away on top will good defeat evil or will evil trample over Antony and his hell bent way to get even with Brutus and Cassius?

I would strongly recommend this book to a mature audience, only because the vocabulary in the book is to strong for the adolescence. As far as that goes the story gives very great detail and a very great picture image in your head. So I would defiantly recommend this book for high school children and older.

et tu brute?.......2006-05-18

This is a book that i have recently finished for the first time reading all the way through. It asks compelling questions through the thoughts and converstations between the main characters and their wives. It also relates to current political parties battling for control of the governtment with a 3rd side party also involved. There are also many ironic and suspenseful moments that kepp you reading evan if you are not reading it for study. Over all, I find it a great novel, but it is not something that I would read again for a long while; but possibly see the play acted out or watch a telivision form.

Shakespeare never gets stale.......2006-04-09

Scholars have expounded on the merits of Shakespeare's work for centuries, so I'm not likely to add anything of value here. I merely want to point out how extraordinary and rewarding it is to read something written 500 years ago that still seems so fresh today. Human nature really hasn't changed at all. Upon rereading this tale of the machinations surrounding the assassination of Julius Caeser, the scene that really stood out for me was the one in which the assassin Brutus and the loyalist Antony take turns addressing the public following Caeser's death. The manner in which the crowd is stirred against Caeser by Brutus and then swayed the opposite way by Antony can be read as a humorous parody of today's poll-driven political scene. When Antony insists that "I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,/ Action, nor utterance, nor the powers of speech/ To stir men's blood; I only speak right on," I can hear the voices of any number of modern politicians, including good old George W. himself.

Caesar's Commentaries: On The Gallic War and On The Civil War

Average customer rating:

What's latin for boring??
Essential Reading - Excellent!
Hail Ceasar !
poor translation
A classic from Antiquity!

Caesar's Commentaries: On The Gallic War and On The Civil War
Julius Caesar
Manufacturer: El Paso Norte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0976072610

Book Description

This complete edition of Caesar's Commentaries contains all eight of Caesar's books on the Gallic War as well as all three of his books on the Civil War masterfully translated into English by W. A. MacDevitt. Caesar's Commentaries are an outstanding account of extraordinary events by one of the most exceptional men in the history of the world. Julius Caesar himself was one of the most eminent writers of the age in which he lived. His commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars are written with a purity, precision, and perspicuity, which command approbation. They are elegant without affectation, and beautiful without ornament. Of the two books which he composed on Analogy, and those under the title of Anti-Cato, scarcely any fragment is preserved; but we may be assured of the justness of the observations on language, which were made by an author so much distinguished by the excellence of his own compositions. His poem entitled The Journey, which was probably an entertaining narrative, is likewise totally lost. All of Caesar's works that remain intact are contained in this edition of his commentaries.

It is to the honor of Caesar, that when he had obtained the supreme power, he exercised it with a degree of moderation beyond what was generally expected by those who had fought on the side of the Republic. His time was almost entirely occupied with public affairs, in the management of which, though he employed many agents, he appears to have had none in the character of actual minister.

Caesar deprecated a lingering death, and wished that his own might be sudden and speedy. And the day before he died, the conversation at supper, in the house of Marcus Lepidus, turning upon what was the most eligible way of dying, he gave his opinion in favor of a death that is sudden and unexpected. He died in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and was ranked amongst the Gods.

Customer Reviews:

What's latin for boring??.......2007-07-05

Caesar might have been a good general but he's a uniquely boring writer with leaden descriptions of intensely exciting campaigns. The other problem is that it's best to read Roman writers in the original Latin as that way the "otherness" of ancient Romans comes across better. Ergo taedet me istius libris. Dabit deus his quoque finem.

Essential Reading - Excellent!.......2007-05-25

Caesar's Commentaries are an essential read for anyone who aspires to a good education. For several centuries, English public schools (meaning private) required their students to translate Caesar's Commentaries from the Latin. Since the decline of written Latin for church and scholarly purposes, translating Caesar has fallen out of favor. But, the main reasons for reading Caesar still persist: It provides an excellent model of clear, simple exposition and demonstrates how a man of substance should express himself.

Make no mistake about it, Caesar was a clever, calculating, complicated man, but when he wrote, he was certain about what he intended to say and said it. MacDevitt's translation is not that of a schoolboy; it is that of a school-master. Where there is a subtle reference in Caesar's prose, MacDevitt captured it in his English translation clearly and succinctly.

When you read Caesar's Commentaries, you are not reading the rantings of a third-rate politician. You are reading the words of one of the most important figures in the entire history of the human race. The accomplishments of Julius Caesar, whether for good or evil, will stand as a monument to human ambition for all time, second only to that of Alexander the Great.

Hail Ceasar !.......2007-05-08

It is a very interesting read, but can be hard to follow if you are not a history buff or a fan of Roman History + Ceasar. For the time, the thought process and lucid writing techniques are above average. If you want to get a real sense of history with first hand knowledge, then this is a great read for history buffs, and non-history buffs as well.

poor translation.......2007-04-12

I would strongly recommend getting a higher quality, clearer translation. This version of the classic is near incomprehensible compared to the Penguin or Oxford versions.

A classic from Antiquity!.......2007-02-22

This classic is well worth the time of any buff on Roman History. If you are a true buff you already own it! There are eight "books" comprising about 15-25 pages apiece. Each book a reflection on the previous year's effort in Gaul. The style is plain and to the point. Written in order to curry favor in Rome and document his campaigns, Caeser is guilty of inflating enemy numbers according to some historians. Never the less he painstakingly records the relations between the tribes of the time, the Gauls,Celts, and Germanic peoples are all referenced. The final three books regarding the Civil War are longer. Ramon L. Jimenez's "Caesar against the Celts" is a great companion for this one. He has a good bibliography as well since this translation of the "Commentaries" is lacking of one. For fans of HBO's Rome television show, check out Book V chapter XLIV.

Caesar Against Rome: The Great Roman Civil War

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CAVEAT EMPTOR: An Opus of Minimal Scholarship
Oh baby you got what I need!!!
Give it a try...
The Roman Civil War
Fine Narrative of the Roman Civil War

Caesar Against Rome: The Great Roman Civil War
Ramon L. Jimenez
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0275966208

Book Description

Caesar Against Rome is an absorbing narrative of the four-year Roman Civil War that began with Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BCE. Focusing always on Caesar, the book sketches a panorama of Roman society--the first society to display the ambition, greed, and intrigue of modern politics--in the last century before Christ. Caesar was a complex and contradictory figure, extraordinarily talented and extremely ambitious, but at the same time vain, careless, and inclined to be forgiving. While Caesar's unusual clementia was a major factor in winning popular support, soldiers, and towns to his side, it allowed virtually all enemy leaders to return to the battlefield against him. Supplemented by the writings of other ancient historians as well as the latest research, this book is based primarily on Caesar's own detailed Commentaries, written to explain and justify his military campaigns. Those interested in Roman history will find a wealth of information about every aspect of life in the late Roman Republic, including political issues, class divisions, marriage customs, travel, food, and entertainment. Military historians will discover details about every facet of Roman warfare from weaponry to personnel policy, to tactics, operations, and logistics. Single chapters are devoted to each campaign: Greece, Africa, Spain, and Egypt.

Customer Reviews:

CAVEAT EMPTOR: An Opus of Minimal Scholarship.......2005-03-02

This book by Ramon Jimenez is limited to Caesar and his participation in the Civil War against Pompey The Great's republican forces between 49-45 B.C. Although the book may at first appear to be informative to those who are just beginning to learn about Roman history and Caesar, don't be fooled! Ramon Jimenez has absolutely no credentials in classical studies, history, or anthropology: his background is as a civil servant in California. Mr. Jimenez didn't even begin to undertake any studies in antiquity until his later adult years and such studies amounted to nothing more than his personal pursuit of a private hobby, not a Masters or Ph.D. There's also no indication that Mr. Jimenez has any background in Ancient Greek or Latin which would be prerequisites to presenting one's self as any sort of established authority in the field of classical studies. Even disregarding his lack of academic qualifications to present any thesis or dissertation on Roman history, his lack of knowledge as to the Late Roman Republic is made plainly obvious by his cursory summaries of Roman society and politics that are nothing but amateurish and misleading oversimplifications at best. The problem with Mr. Jimenez' work is that he focuses on Julius Caesar far too narrowly because he has no competent knowledge of the society, culture, and political environment Julius Caesar lived in: his study is almost in a complete void. One cannot understand Julius Caesar without knowing much about the Roman Republic any more than one could understand Alexander The Great without knowing any significant details about Ancient Greece, Macedonia and Persia. This book is therefore fundamentally unreliable as an authority on the Roman Republic, the Civil War, or even Caesar specifically.

His broad summaries of Roman society and politics demonstrate poor academic research and ignorance of the subject matter. For example, in the first chapter of the book, he oversimplifies Sulla's motives in securing his command in Asia Minor by labeling him as a simple tyrannical autocrat. Jimenez fails to provide even a brief concise overview of the Social Wars or how its aftermath affected Sulla's politics and those of his opponents: as a result, the reader also gets a poor overview of the events and politics that influenced Caesar's later political career. The book significantly overlooks the impact of Marcus Licinius Crassus and his patronage of Caesar, on the formation of the First Triumvirate, and, how his death was essentially the single most important cataclysm to the Civil War. The rest of his text is also very general barely touching only the surface of the dynamic socio-political developments of the time. The information being so bare, one wonders why the book is so long in the first place as other more competent authors have condensed even more detail in fewer pages. These types of generalizations are rampant in this book as well as his other book, "Caesar Against The Celts." This type of analysis shows only the author's ignorance of the broad context of the Roman Republic and his failure to grasp the significance of events and persons that influenced Caesar and ultimately led to the Civil War.

These types of incomplete summaries and false facts are rampant throughout the book and clearly indicate the author's lack of knowledge as to his subject. Mr. Jimenez' poor research is indicative of a tunnel-vision approach to only a very limited segment of Roman history that is inevitably dependent on a thourough and broad understanding of the Roman Republic specifically and antiquity in general: an understanding which Mr. Jimenez clearly lacks and results in his painfully evident demonstration of poor scholarship. I have no credentials in classical studies either and even I can see the gross inaccuracies in this work. The difference with me is that I wouldn't be so arrogant as to publish a book claiming to be authoritative when it's based only on loose knowledge I obtained on my spare time as a hobbyist. This book should be shunned as an authoritative text as to anything dealing with Rome: the only thing it's clearly authoritative on is its author's ignorance of the subject. Indeed, this book does a gross disservice to all true scholars who have committed years of schooling and dilligent work to the study of antiquity to dispel the very same misconceptions Mr. Jimenez ignorantly propagates as sound research in this poor work. Ignore this pitiful work and read Caesar's Commentaries directly or the work of qualified scholars of classics such as Gruen, Syme, Millar, or others who clearly know what they're writing about before they publish their work.

Oh baby you got what I need!!!.......2003-01-22

This book is awesome!!! Dude I love ancient history and this book is like getting a history IV right in your veins, oh yeah that's the stuff!! Seriously though this book is so easy to read that I would say it is hard to put down, and it still manages to give some awesome info about the Roman Civil war that ultimately led to Caesar's complete domination of the Roman World. So if you like ancient history, especially Roman History(and who doesn't?), or if you just like an action packed story I would highly recommend this book.

Give it a try..........2002-07-11

I read this book after completing a book by Barbara Tuchman, and was immediately discouraged by the differences in writing style. Jimenez lacks the twist of phrase and economy of words that makes Tuchman such a pleasure to read, and I came close to putting the book down. However, as I continued to read, these concerns fell by the wayside. True to Jiminez's words in his preface, he lets the facts tell the story, laying them bare for the reader to absorb, and interjecting well labelled speculation from time to time when the facts weren't clear. Whether Jiminez improved his writing style as the book went on, or I simply got used to it, he sythesizes a very readable account of one of the great conquerers in history.

I picked up this book to augment my weak understanding of the late roman republic and the specific things Caesar did to form the empire. I was well served by Jiminez in this regard. Anyone who wants to know how Caesar's life was intertwined with a whole host of other household names from the same time period (Cicero, Mark Antony, Brutus, Pompey and Cleopatra) ought to read this book. Jiminez also gives context to many of Caesar's well known, but little understood exploits such: crossing the Rubicon, the Gallic wars, and Veni, Vidi, Vici.

All in all, an adequately written book with loads in information presented interestingly enough to make you want to continue to read.

The Roman Civil War.......2001-08-06

This is an excellent short work on the Roman Civil War for the general reader. It is written in such an easily read style that, at times, it reads like a novel. It's quite linear, and so all of the many convolutions of this distant and confusing conflict appear to be made clear. Where there are contadictions in the historical record the author notes them, and then gives his best idea of what he feels is correct. I found the work very interesting, and learned quite a bit about this period of

Roman history that I had never known before reading this work. That is a high compliment to the author.

Fine Narrative of the Roman Civil War.......2001-06-20

Most of us are familiar with some aspect of Julius Caesar's life- his military reputation, his affair with Cleopatra or his eventual assination. Jimenez has created a readable account that explains the relations of these events, focusing particulary on the confusing period of the Roman Civil war, where Caesar fought for control of the Roman goverment against Pompey. Jimenez produces a fine portrait of Caesar and his motivations in this period. Military events are given excellent summary, balanced with an account of the internal intrigues in the empire, and the astonishing developments of Caesar's campaigns against the Pompeian forces. Careful reference is made to the historical sources that survive, as well as archaelogical finds from modern times.

My own sketchy knowledge of Caesar was considerably expanded. I felt a certain admiration for Caesar that entwined with the narrative to create a vibrant and fascinating story. It's always a good book that leaves you excited and wanting to know more when your done. Jimenez has achieved that task.

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The Commentaries: The Gallic Wars and the Civil Wars (2MP3 CDs)
Gaius Julius Caesar , and Charlton Griffin
Manufacturer: Audio Connoisseur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: MP3 CD

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ASIN: 1929718446

Book Description

2 MP3-CDs, Unabridged, With Music and Sound Effects, Running Time: 16 hours 42 minutes Julius Caesar wrote his exciting "Commentaries" during some of the most grueling campaigns ever undertaken by a Roman army. "The Gallic Wars" and "The Civil Wars" constitute the greatest series of military dispatches ever written. As literature, they are representative of the finest expressions of Latin prose in its "golden" age, a benchmark of elegant style and masculine brevity imitated by young schoolboys for centuries.

One of the most daring and brilliant generals of all time, Julius Caesar combined the elements of tactical genius with the shrewdness of a master politician. He was an astute judge of men's character, their strengths and weaknesses. Whenever possible, he exercised restraint and mercy even when his worst enemies were in his power. But he also knew when and how to mete out stern punishment and his swift retaliations became a hallmark of his career. With his charismatic leadership, his powerful intellect, and his magnetic personal charm, Julius Caesar became the idol of men and women everywhere. The fanatic loyalty of his troops and the adulation of the Roman public propelled him to the pinnacle of power. Historian Will Durant called him "the most complete man that antiquity produced."

Follow along in this recording as Julius Caesar, in 50 B.C., undertakes the awesome enterprise of subduing savage Gaul, an area roughly the size of Texas. That task was barely completed before his enemies in Rome struck, igniting the bloody Civil War that engulfed most of the Roman Empire and afterward left Caesar in supreme power. © and (P)2004 Audio Connoisseur

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Excellent. This book makes you feel like Caesar's buddy.

Nice ending to a great series

Superbly Written Historical Fiction

Sensational!

Mesmerizing To The End...

Emperor: The Gods of War (Emperor)
Conn Iggulden
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Under the Eagle: A Tale of Military Adventure and Reckless Heroism with the Roman Legions

ASIN: 0385337671
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

The year is 53 B.C. Fresh from victory in Gaul, Julius Caesar leads battle-hardened legions across the Rubicon river–threatening Rome herself. Even the master strategist Pompey is caught unprepared by the strike, and forced to abandon his city. The armies of Rome will face each other at last in civil war, led by the two greatest generals ever to walk the seven hills. Thus begins Conn Iggulden’s towering saga of Julius Caesar as he approaches his final destiny—a destiny that will be decided not by legions but by his friend Brutus and an Egyptian queen named Cleopatra, who will bear his only son....

For Caesar, the campaign against Pompey will test his military genius and his appetite for glory to their limits, as the greatest fighting machine the world has ever seen divides against itself in a bloody conflict that will set brother against brother until victory or death. But for Caesar, another kingdom beckons—a world of ancient mysteries and languid sensuality, where a beautiful, bewitching woman waits to snare his heart.

The Gods of War follows Julius Caesar through politics and passion, ruthless ambition and private grief, and into the corruption of power itself. Those he has loved will play a part in his triumphs—as will the jealousy and hatred of his enemies.

From the spectacles of the arena to the whispered lies of conspirators, Conn Iggulden brings to life a world of monumental drama. And at its heart is one extraordinary friendship—marked by fierce loyalty and bitter betrayal, with dark events shrouded in noble ideals.

Download Description

The year is 53 B.C. Fresh from victory in Gaul, Julius Caesar leads battle-hardened legions across the Rubicon river–threatening Rome herself. Even the master strategist Pompey is caught unprepared by the strike, and forced to abandon his city. The armies of Rome will face each other at last in civil war, led by the two greatest generals ever to walk the seven hills. Thus begins Conn Iggulden’s towering saga of Julius Caesar as he approaches his final destiny–a destiny that will be decided not by legions but by his friend Brutus and an Egyptian queen named Cleopatra, who will bear his only son....

For Caesar, the campaign against Pompey will test his military genius and his appetite for glory to their limits, as the greatest fighting machine the world has ever seen divides against itself in a bloody conflict that will set brother against brother until victory or death. But for Caesar, another kingdom beckons–a world of ancient mysteries and languid sensuality, where a beautiful, bewitching woman waits to snare his heart.

The Gods of War follows Julius Caesar through politics and passion, ruthless ambition and private grief, and into the corruption of power itself. Those he has loved will play a part in his triumphs–as will the jealousy and hatred of his enemies.

From the spectacles of the arena to the whispered lies of conspirators, Conn Iggulden brings to life a world of monumental drama. And at its heart is one extraordinary friendship–marked by fierce loyalty and bitter betrayal, with dark events shrouded in noble ideals.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent. This book makes you feel like Caesar's buddy........2007-09-12

I'm a history buff and thought I knew the ins and outs of Caesar. Yeah, I did, but this book...well, it just makes you feel like you were standing in Rome and having first name basis buddy-ship with Caesar.

A very remarkable dude he is. Think aobut it. How many other dudes are so controlled and all rounded? Great in war, lucky with chics, and an excellent politician. No wonder he's so successful.

And what better way than to end life in a memorable way? Getting assassinated by folks who get jealous of you, including your best friends..."Et tu Brute" = "Even you Brutus". Man, that is just Immortal...god-like.

Nice ending to a great series.......2007-04-20

I've really enjoyed the entire series, going so far as to buy a 10 euro copy of the last installation in an airport in Copenhagen. Iggulden seems to have followed actual historical events fairly closely and providing some educated insight into the personalities of these fascinating people. The only minor complaint is that the story actually seems a little rushed. It probably could have been separated into two separate novels: the final battle with Pompey and the adventures in Egypt. At the end of the historical note, Iggulden hints that he might write another novel that continues where this novel leaves off. I can only hope that he follows through.

Superbly Written Historical Fiction.......2007-03-27

I've just finished up all four in the series and am left wanting more. Julius Ceasar was one of the most remarkable men in history and Iggulden has done an amazing job of bringing him to life in these pages. With so much at our fingertips today, it is hard to imagine a human being with that kind of vision, let alone the will and determination it would have taken to accomplish what still seems impossible.

James Hart Isley
Author of The Bear Hunter

Sensational!.......2007-03-10

I ordered the first two in the Emperor series (one of historical fiction chronicalling the life of Julius Caeser) and swallowed a dose of 'shock & awe' as I devoured these page turners. I wouldn't recommend them if you like to get to bed early, as I found myself continually battling the sandman to remain awake to see how the latest adventures of the protaganists turned out. While reading the first two I knew that I HAD to go back on Amazon to purchase the remaining books. I discovered that GODS OF WAR was not yet in paperback. Like it mattered. I am the proud owner of 3 paperbacks and 1 hardcover. It was well worth it. I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a good yarn, swashbuckling adventure, superior character development, fascinating historical fiction and plainly-just a damn good read. My only hope now is the author, Mr. Iggulden, decides to continue the saga with Octavian/Augustus, Mark Antony and that little Greek/Egyptian Minx. After that there's plenty of drama in the Empire. So to Conn, Sir, I beseech you to put 'pen to paper' and continue the journey. I will do my part and spread the word here in the colonies. I already owe you a pint!

Mesmerizing To The End..........2007-01-08

I have now read all 4 novels of the Emperor series, each one just as fascinating as the previous one. I hated to see the end, knowing that Iggulden was going to write next on Ghengis Khan, which he has done and which will be published later this year.

I hope he returns to the scene of Caesar's murder and continues the series, so much of great Roman history happened in the years following.

Of this book I can only say the story is told wonderfully, with such a fresh and unique angle on all the characters that it was easy to follow them from book to book; even meeting new characters as I went.

Thank you, Conn, for a truly satisfying journey through the Via Romana and please revisit it soon.

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Second Book in the Oxford Series I've Read
Excellent Pre-Christian view of untainted world
The Civil War (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
One for the scholars
Great book

The Civil War (Penguin Classics)
Julius Caesar
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140441875

Book Description

`All over Italy men were conscripted, and weapons requisitioned; money was exacted from towns, and taken from shrines; and all the laws of god and man were overturned.' The Civil War is Caesar's masterly account of the celebrated war between himself and his great rival Pompey, from the crossing of the Rubicon in January 49 B.C. to Pompey's death and the start of the Alexandrian War in the autumn of the following year. His unfinished account of the continuing struggle with Pomepy's heirs and followers is completed by the three anonymous accounts of the Alexandrian, African, and Spanish Wars, which bring the story down to within a year of Caesar's assassination in March 44 B.C. This generously annotated edition places the war in context and enables the reader to grasp it both in detail and as a whole.

Customer Reviews:

Second Book in the Oxford Series I've Read.......2007-07-24

I enjoyed the book on the Gallic War and equally enjoyed this book on the Civil War. The method of indicating and referencing notes was easy to work with. Additonally, both books have an excellent amount of introductory material.

Excellent Pre-Christian view of untainted world.......2007-01-10

I bought this book as a replacement (lost the original plus many more to Hurricane Katrina). Any fan of the pre-christian world or anyone who would like a work that was written over 2000 years ago by one of history's greatest men, this book is for you!

The Civil War (Penguin Classics) (Paperback).......2006-03-14

It was exactly what I wanted. A good translation of the book.

One for the scholars.......2002-03-31

As a direct source this book is valuable and needed. To the casual reader of history (like myself) it is a bit of a drag. The book has highlights but the authors are writing it to their contemporaries. It is difficult for the modern reader to grasp exactly what is happening. I think a book with maps and further explanations as to motivations and battle tactics (to a layman like me) would have been of greater interest. One thing I can say, however, is that you get a first hand look at what Caesar must have been like. The book clearly shows his side in the most favorable light (not surprising) but not as much as one would think.

Great book.......2001-05-22

An account of the civil war that had to happen with two such colossal egos as Caesar and Pompey. This is a less famous episode than the Octavian-Anthony war, but just as important, as it laid the ground for the appointment of a dictator which eventually evolved into the position of emperor, and also Caesars death. Not as well written or as clear as Caesars commentaries from Gaul, but give a clearer insight into the divisions in Roman politics, as others are thought to have contributed to the writings. A great follow up to Caesars commentaries from Gaul.

Caesar's Legacy: Civil War and the Emergence of the Roman Empire

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Challenging but Illuminating
History Buff

Caesar's Legacy: Civil War and the Emergence of the Roman Empire
Josiah Osgood
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521671779

Book Description

Caesar's Legacy recounts the rise to power of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, by focusing on how the bloody civil wars which he and his soldiers fought transformed the lives of men and women throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. The volume demonstrates how, during this violent period, Romans came to accept a new form of government and found ways to celebrate it in their towns and cities. It also reveals how they mourned, in literary masterpieces and stories passed onto their children, the terrible losses that accompanied the long years of fighting.

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Challenging but Illuminating.......2006-06-29

Every scholar of Caesar's life knows that his legacy is by far the most controversial part of his career: did he destroy the Roman Republic? Or did he set in place changes that would (through his adopted son, Augustus) help to save it?

I had looked forward to this book, but at first was taken aback to find out that it was much more about the heir, Augustus (called at this point in time Octavian to distinguish him from his adopted father). So you might say I started the book out unsure why it was called "Caesar's Legacy" rather than "What Augustus and Antony did after Caesar died." Up to perhaps the mid-point in the book, I also had problems with the fact that Osgood chooses to try to express the feelings and perceptions of normal Romans (and provincials)in this period through the literature that survived. In the awful power vacuum after Caesar's death, the Triumvirs deliberately choose to kill political enemies and seize their estates to find property for their supporters and soldiers. To dig out how this affected real people, means for Osgood that we plow through a great deal of poetry by Virgil or Horace that deals with the people's sufferings, and that has never been my strong suit.

Yet, somewhat grudgingly, I came to believe I understood what Osgood was trying to do, and his use of literary works does work well. It is so commonplace to say "the horrors of proscriptions during the Triumvirate," but that doesn't grab your emotional attention. Talking about the small men and women who suffered through this horrible period, does. And no source could be better than the great writers of the time who could speak with immediacy about the small farmers dispossessed by the "clearings" (in which Octavian and Antony gave land to their own supporters and/or their armies); the small merchants who watched their trade wither; the exactions for endless wars, first Octavian against Antony, then the two against Brutus and the assassins, then Antony against Octavian. It was 14 brutal years of war, terror, chaos - the world turned upside-down. Perhaps most movingly, you come to see (as Osgood carefully builds his book) how the very foundation of a strong society was shaken - people had believed that you could depend on some kind of continuity in life, that justice existed, that you could depend from day to day on retaining your home, savings, family. This certainty began to be destroyed. More and more, "Fortune" (chance, luck, Murphy's Law, whatever - a goddess to the Romans) embodied Roman perceptions of their lives - one day you could be living in the small farm inherited from your great-grandfather, the next day, homeless. One day your small town in Ionian Greece could be doing well, the next day one of the armies would sack it and you lost everything - including your life, or the lives of your wife, children, parents. I found this terribly poignant and a perception that no other writer had really brought home to me. Surely, in wars anywhere and everywhere, the sense that indifferent chance rules your future is destructive to everything stable civilizations say they provide.

So, also, do you see Octavian change; from the utter ruthlessness of his proscriptions, through the constant challenges of the Triumviral period, wars, disasters, rebuilding, fighting on land and sea - to someone who apparently had some sense of just how much destruction Romans had suffered, and began to come up with ideas of how to try to make reparation for that suffering with systems that would reform what was bad, and try to save what was good, about the Roman Republic.

All in all, this is not an easy book, but it significantly enhanced my understanding of this critical period; it will be one I will read again, since Osgood's ideas are not simple or commonplace. But I highly recommend it for the serious student of Roman history, who wants to go beyond the standard comments and form a sense of what it meant to live through that awful period. In the truest sense, Caesar's legacy was the war and suffering that had to be lived through to find a new perception of the Roman Empire.

History Buff.......2006-06-27

I found this book to be very interesting and it gave me a different cast on the end of the Republic. This history has been written many times and this book puts a new slant on it. I enjoyed it

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Simply the Best
The Tragedy of the Tragically Unaesthetically Pleasing Review
Great edition of a great play
Excellent Shakespeare Classic
It's Not All Greek.

Julius Caesar (Arden Shakespeare)
David Daniell
Manufacturer: Arden
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1903436214

Book Description

This edition of one of ShakespeareÂ's best known and most frequently performed plays argues for Julius Caesar as a new kind of political play, a radical departure from contemporary practice, combining fast action and immediacy with compelling rhetorical language, and finding a clear context for its study of tyranny in the last decade of the reign of Elizabeth 1. The richly experimental verse and the complex structure of the play are analysed in depth, and a strong case is made for this to be the first play to be performed at ShakespeareÂ's Globe Theatre. 'Daniell's edition is a hefty piece of serious scholarship that makes a genuine contribution.' Eric Rasmussen, University of Nevada at Reno, Shakespeare Survey 'This is a stimulating new look at a play which is too often exhibited in a critical museum.' Paul Dean, English Studies

Customer Reviews:

Simply the Best.......2007-08-03

The Arden Shakespeare series is the best, for either the beginning of scholarly research, the average needs of the English student, or as a resource for the informed theater professional. My only note of caution is for a casual reader who may find the extensive footnoting more of an interruption than a help. Love this book, love them all.

The Tragedy of the Tragically Unaesthetically Pleasing Review.......2006-05-25

"The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare proves to be an amazing read if one thoroughly enjoys the challenge of deciphering the selective form of writing and occasionally complicated dialect. This classic play is based on the true, factual account of the assassination of Julius Caesar as it truly took place in 44 B.C. Of course, Shakespeare has completely made the story his own through the use of comic relief, characterization, and wonderful original composition. Julius Caesar, the ambitious and prideful dictator of Rome, has returned home from a victorious battle against his fellow Triumvirate, Pompey. As he celebrates and relishes his absolute power, little does he suspect the growing opposition of conspirators, some of whom he would never expect. This read is certainly worthwhile if one has a good taste for tragedy and does not mind a challenge.

Great edition of a great play.......2006-03-08

I really enjoyed reading this edition of the play. Each scene is proceded by a summary of the secene and followed by commentary on the scene, and there are notes alongside the text explaining unusual words/phrases. As an actor, I have been reading Shakespeare for quite awhile, and I still found this book very helpful. If you are new to reading Shakespeare, I particularly recommend this because you will find it very helpful.

Excellent Shakespeare Classic.......2006-02-12

Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar in about 1599. The play was the first of three Roman plays. Shakespeare based the source material for the play on a translation of a work by the Greek philosopher and biographer Plutarch, called "The lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans". Shakespeare, like Plutarch, praises and criticises the actions of the main characters in the assassination of Julius Caesar. However, the historical events in the play are fairly accurate, although the playwright sometimes changed the sequence and timing of events and added his limitless imagination to produce a timeless play that has been enacted and enjoyed by millions of people worldwide over the centuries.

The play is set in a period of political instability in Rome. The people of Rome celebrate Caesar victory over Pompey, their former leader. However, there are officials that are concerned about Caesar's growing power. The Romans were then aware that absolute power is open to abuse (there are people today who still do not know this simple fact). Among those concerned about the growing power of Caesar are Cassius and Brutus, who are both followers of Caesar.

Cassius persuades Brutus that something needs to be done to thwart Caesar's growing ambitions. Brutus has a problem with his conscience but ultimately decides that it is in the best interests of Rome that Caesar is eliminated.

Caesar receives warnings about the impending danger. During a festival that Caesar attends, he is warned "Beware the Ides of March". Caesar, however, dismisses the Soothsayer's warnings. When the Ides of March arrive and while Caesar is due to go to be crowned, warnings in the form of storms, bad omens and his wife's horrible dreams initially persuade Caesar to stay at home. However, Caesar decides to go after being advised that if he did not show up, Senators might change their minds about crowning him emperor. On entering the capitol, the conspirators stab Caesar to death.

Mark Anthony, a very close ally of Caesar, initially pretends to go along with the conspirators but he is determined to avenge his death. When Brutus addresses the confused crowd to drum up support for the assassination, Mark Anthony cleverly and expertly manages to turn the crowd against the conspirators and incites them to riot. With popular support in Rome, the triumvirs Anthony, Octavious and Lepidus plan to fight Brutus and Cassius. Brutus's conscience still troubles him and he sees Caesars ghost. Fighting takes place and Cassius and Brutus are defeated and both commit suicide to save their honour. The triumvirs then seize power after avenging Caesar.

It's Not All Greek........2005-12-25

When I first read JULIUS CAESAR as a sophomore in high school, I found it to be a decent play, but other than some really cool lines, didn't think it was that great. After having re-read the play and now having taught it to my own classes of sophomore English students, I have a much greater appreciation for the play. Granted, JULIUS CAESAR is not one of Shakespeare's greatest plays nor is it even one of his best histories. And despite much of it being written in the classic Shakespearean iambic pentameter, it really isn't all that poetic. There are moments when the language is extremely vivid and moving, e.g. Mark Antony's speech to the citizens of Rome or some of Brutus' personal soliloquies. However, compared to HAMLET or KING LEAR or HENRY V, the play seems juvenile by comparison. However, it is that very unpolished, amatuerism that makes the play so relevant and easy to connect with younger audiences.

Though Julius Caesar is the title character, the play isn't really about Caesar. Instead, the play is about Caesar's closest friend, Marcus Brutus. Through Brutus, the play examines exactly what it means to be noble, what is honor, and the nature of friendship. In the course of the play, Brutus is led to believe and becomes convinced that in doing a most dishonorable act, he is doing the most honorable thing he possibly can to save Rome and all the ideals he has staked his life upon. Yet, his decision brings him to kill his best friend and ultimately brings about the end of the republic which he had tried to save.

Contrary to what I had been led to believe before I began teaching this play, students really enjoy JULIUS CAESAR. It is full of murder and betrayal. They enjoy the violence and the theme of betrayal is something they are all able to relate to. I have also found that student seem to sympathize much more with Caesar than with Brutus. They can't understand why Brutus would kill his best friend. The concept of caring more about a group of people (family, country, etc.) than one single person seems beyond them. I've tried to use Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE to help them understand this better (in that story the question is "If you were able to stop Hitler before he became Hitler, even if he was your closest friend, would you?").

Overall, though JULIUS CAESAR is not one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, it is a great play to introduce people both to the brilliance of Shakespeare and to one of history's most pivotal moments; the time when Rome became an Empire.

Julius Caesar (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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Julius Caesar (Folger Shakespeare Library)
William Shakespeare , and Paul Werstine
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743484932

Book Description

FOLGER Shakespeare Library

The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies

Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essay by Coppélia Kahn

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to theworld's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet forShakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open tothe public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performancesand programs. For more information, visit www.folger.edu.

Book Description

"But, for my own part, it was Greek to me."

Now you can appreciate Julius Caesar in plain English. Political intrigue. Ambition. Envy. Conspiracy. Hypocrisy. Betrayal. Assassination. Pride. Suicide. The Ides of March. The tides of war. Julius Caesar makes today's political scene seem boring! If the original text seems Greek (or geek) to you, now you can read and enjoy it in a modern translation that's easy to understand. Special aids make following the action and grasping the meaning a snap:

A brief synopsis of the plot and action
A comprehensive character list that describes the characteristics, motivations, and actions of each major player
A visual character map that shows the relationships of major characters
A cycle-of-death graphic that pinpoints the sequence of deaths and includes who dies, how they die, and why
Reflective questions that help you understand the themes of the play

Shakespeare on the Double! Julius Caesar helps you appreciate this play and the sad, oft-quoted question, "Et tu, Brute?"

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