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Caesar: Life Of A Colossus

by Adrian Goldsworthy

4.13 · rating details · 572 ratings · 88 reviews

As Adrian Goldsworthy writes in the introduction to this book, “in his fifty-six years, Caesar was at times many things, including a fugitive, prisoner, rising politician, army leader, legal advocate, rebel, dictator . . . as well as husband, father, lover and adulterer.” In this landmark biography, Goldsworthy examines all of these roles and places his subject firmly with...more

Paperback, 608 pages

Published January 28th 2008 by Yale University Press (first published May 11th 2006)

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Mar 17, 2011

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

I truly enjoyed this book, and find that I'm actually rueful that I no longer have Goldsworthy's excellent biography to look forward to when I arrive home after work. I came to this six-hundred-plus page behemoth with a fair understanding of all the events, names, and places, and thus had originally planned to read it in installments scattered here and there whilst other books, long demanding my attention, received the majority of my time; however, damned if the erudite, illuminative, and fluid ...moreI truly enjoyed this book, and find that I'm actually rueful that I no longer have Goldsworthy's excellent biography to look forward to when I arrive home after work. I came to this six-hundred-plus page behemoth with a fair understanding of all the events, names, and places, and thus had originally planned to read it in installments scattered here and there whilst other books, long demanding my attention, received the majority of my time; however, damned if the erudite, illuminative, and fluid prose of the British author didn't suck me in completely, to such a degree that I eventually refused to fight against it anymore and plunged into Caesar in full.

Really, Caesar's is a story that can only get better in the retelling, an astounding tale of a man who combined immense personal charm, a gifted and practical intelligence, astute political sensitivity, a genius for military command, and an effective, demagogic oratory into a whole that, combined with the incredible fortune that seemed to dog his steps throughout the course his eventful life - save for the very end - inexorably propelled him from a shaky start as a youth from a politically average branch of a patrician tribe forced to live by his wits, on the run from the bounty hunters of the dictator Sulla, to the undisputed master of the Roman Republic, without peer after crushing or pardoning all of his enemies and seemingly poised to lead his invincible legions upon another round of conquest against the eastern impertinence of the Parthians. Unwilling to take the ruthless and bloody steps of a Sulla in cleansing the Republic of dangerous malcontents, Caesar - our clement old master in the words of one of the leaders amongst his assassins, Cassius - made the fatal error of trusting too much in the efficacy of his charismatic aura and not enough in the necessity of maintaining republican forms - while damaging too many already bruised egos in the process - and was cut down just prior to embarking upon his eastern campaign. His adopted son Octavian would learn from his forebear's mistakes and successfully orchestrate the illusion (one gratefully embraced by a war-weary citizenry) of a republican restoration whilst crafting the core of an absolute monarchy beneath the principate trappings.

Although the tale of Caesar is a familiar one, I must say that the author provided some fresh insights and analyses to various points in his life, being especially good at making clear to me details from Caesar's youth and early career, including his Asian service under Isauricus. Goldsworthy also brings the Gallic campaigns into a modern light, and his coverage of the underlying causes and colliding personalities that sparked the Civil War is very informative and helpful; plus, the cat-and-mouse maneuvering between Pompey and Caesar leading to the dramatic clash at Pharsalus is told in taut and gripping prose - when the cavalry under Labienus break against Caesar's concealed fourth wall of infantry angled on the right, it's a cathartic release of the tension, even though everyone knows who emerged victorious. What's more, important personages like Cicero and Pompey are given fair and considered judgement, whilst the aristocratic party of Cato, the self-proclaimed Good Men, receive their share of blame for the petty vindictiveness and unyielding principle - which so often butted heads with the underlying reality of the political situation and Caesar's dignitas - that contributed to the inability of Proconsul and Senate to reach some manner of compromise. Then, of course, there are the bizarre events of the Alexandrian War, a surreal episode that, fresh upon the heels of the cinematic Pharsalus, seems more the material of imaginative fiction than the likely actions of a Roman general who had just achieved a monumental victory over his enemies. Sadly, the author has no compunction about presenting the entire fable of sexy-Cleopatra-in-the-rug as being just that - some sleeping dogs should just be let to lie.

Goldsworthy embodies those infamous British qualities as a historical biographer: an understated wit, a scholastic understanding and academic enthusiasm for his subject, and a slightly dry writing style that doesn't actually detract from the enjoyable readability of the entire affair; indeed, for all of its exhaustive comprehensibility in detailing or exploring the events of Caesar's life, the text is compulsive and absorbing, moving along like a political thriller even though virtually everyone knows how this story will end. Whilst not quite as fun a romp as Tom Holland's smashing Rubicon, its sober tone held more appeal for me whilst imparting a wealth of information; what's more, he dispenses completely with Holland's occasionally irritating modernisms. Indeed, it strikes me that Goldsworthy's examination of the final period of the Roman Republic through the life of its greatest man makes a perfect companion to Holland's journey through the same era looking through the eyes of many - it's a thoroughly readable and enjoyable one-two punch that, in providing depth of coverage in differing-but-complimentary areas, would be difficult to better.

Throughout it all, Goldsworthy earnestly strives for the rigid impartiality of the objective observer, endeavoring to bring the myriad faults and merits, the follies and successes of the oversized egos abutting each other and the Eternal City clearly into the light of our hindsight-blessed day. In particular, he proves reliably thoughtful when called upon to analyze the more infamous amongst Caesar's actions, combing through the sources and considering their intent before applying the lens of logic to deduce the most likely interpretation. He makes every effort to criticize Caesar when such is called for; despite this, however, he cannot but reveal the fact that he greatly admires the subject of his biography and is inclined to view the latter's more questionable actions through as charitable a lens as possible. No matter to this reader, for I must admit to feeling precisely the same way: he possessed a sort of Midas touch, improving any situation merely through his presence, able to instill his followers with a measure of his potent self-confidence and inspire from them a fierce loyalty that was remarkably enduring; a man of such effortless competence that one cannot but marvel at how he consistently achieved what must have seemed, at the outset, beyond the realm of the possible. I have usually held Augustus in a greater esteem due to his political genius in bringing the civil wars to an end and crafting an imperial structure that would hold for centuries; however, Goldsworthy has succeeded in giving the venerable adoptive father a further boost - how can you forget Caesar at the Sambre, or his unheard of mercy towards the defeated Pompeians? - such that I can no longer determine whose form tops the other's, or stands taller on that lofty Roman perch.(less)

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Oct 15, 2008

Keith rated it

· review of another edition

A great history of one of the most influential people in the history of the world. The author does a great job of putting Caesar's actions in context of his times and though he does interpret as best he can he leaves the facts to speak for themselves and acknowledges the many gaps we have in the historical record. too be expected since these actions happened over 2,000 years ago. In addition he puts Cicero, Sulla, Marius, Brutus, Cassius, Pompey, Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the proper light a...more

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Apr 20, 2010

Joyce Lagow rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: history

I found this book incredibly dull. Well researched--no question that almost all of the known material on Caesar is summarized here--but does it have to be so boring? While reading it, I found myself constantly comparing it wih Colleen McCullough's 5 volume fictional work on Caesar; IMHO, her books are infinitely preferable to this one volume. Same material, better read.[return][return]For someone who is supposedly a military historian, it is beyond my power to understand how Goldsworthy coul...moreI found this book incredibly dull. Well researched--no question that almost all of the known material on Caesar is summarized here--but does it have to be so boring? While reading it, I found myself constantly comparing it wih Colleen McCullough's 5 volume fictional work on Caesar; IMHO, her books are infinitely preferable to this one volume. Same material, better read.[return][return]For someone who is supposedly a military historian, it is beyond my power to understand how Goldsworthy could make the Gallic Wars sound so dull. It appeared to me thathe was bored by them. He seemed to pick up interest in the Civil War. I found his summary decent.[return][return]For me, a major problem was the style of writing--mostly simple, declarative sentences. Such monotony along with the appearance of a lack of real interest in his material made for heavy going.[return][return]Another very subjective complaint I have about the book is a lack of a point of view. I'm surprised that in 2007 someone can still make the statement in print of strivign to be entirely objective. That's a vain hope! No one is. In doing so, his material loses life. There is a saying in opera, "strong opinions, strong production". I think it applies equally well to writing.[return][return]Granted, any author of fiction has far, far more leeway than a historian. But McCullough brings her characters to life, which made it far easier for me to remember the material! Also, you can learn far, far more about Roman life, culture, institutions, etc from her glossaries which beat anything I have ever seen in novels.[return][return]Any really good general history ought to inspire the reader to go to original sources. I can't imagine desiring to read Caesar's Commentaries after reading Goldsworthy. Yet they are utterly fascinating.[return][return]The only reason why I didn't give this book the lowest rating is that it is useful to have the material all inone place. And it certainly helps to put one to sleep at night--a good cure for insomnia.(less)

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Mar 04, 2009

Michael rated it

· review of another edition

I have read about Caesar here and there: his own accounts of the Gallic Wars and the Civil War, Plutarch's description of his life, and Theodore Ayrault Dodge's "Caesar" (which confines itself to an examination solely of his military actions). This is the first full biography I have ever read about him. I was led to do so because of a recent perusal of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" and my attempts to revisit his accomplishments in the videogame "Rome: Total War."...more

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Dec 06, 2011

Christopher rated it

Goldsworthy's biography on Julius Caesar is both insightful and full of details. It is bound to intrigue and excite both the professional historian and the casual reader. He balances Caesar's character in the light of the times he lived in making him more of a "product of his environment" rather than the exception to the rule. His insights in to Caesar's brilliance as a military tactician make it hard to put down this book during any of the battles, which take up a good half to two-thi...more

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Sep 04, 2011

Marcus rated it

· review of another edition

It is hard to find any flaws in this biography - after all, it is written by Adrian Goldsworthy, one of today's major authorities regarding late republic and early Roman empire and who by now has published a multitude of academic works on the subject. At the same time I can't feel but feel disapointed by this book, because it is a very modern work, with the consequence of being very clinical and PC. Goldsworthy states the facts and points out repeatedly what events can be suspected to be rumour...more

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Nov 06, 2010

Todd Jensen rated it

· review of another edition

One of the best books about Roman history I've ever read. Took me nearly 2 years to finish this because it was so rich and valuable.

It's outstanding because (1) Goldsworthy is well versed in Roman sources and can judge the material well, (2) Has a good sense of who the Roman's really were: Their nobility and courage along with their viciousness. It's hard to understand Romans until you appreciate how those three things are connected. (3) Goldsworthy is just a solid writer ... the stor...moreOne of the best books about Roman history I've ever read. Took me nearly 2 years to finish this because it was so rich and valuable.

It's outstanding because (1) Goldsworthy is well versed in Roman sources and can judge the material well, (2) Has a good sense of who the Roman's really were: Their nobility and courage along with their viciousness. It's hard to understand Romans until you appreciate how those three things are connected. (3) Goldsworthy is just a solid writer ... the story is told at a certain level of detail and stays true to that pace throughout. He's very good at describing how an ancient war was conducted. For all the "Gladiator" war scene moments (and there were those), there were all the boring things a general did: Write reports, interview locals, train and discipline his men, talk strategy into the night, and of course, make moves on the ladies.

Caesar is an interesting character, and understood through a modern lens would be little more than an opportunistic, proud, and ruthless politician. But ... from the Roman perspective, that was not really something to criticize. All man who shaped Rome were the same and admired or hated for it, depending on which side of the short sword you were on. The question you have to ask then, was Rome better or worse off for his actions. On summary, I would say better and that therefore he is someone to be admired. Roman civilization was the NFL ... you either hit or got hit, there wasn't much room for friendly mediation of radically different agendas.

Rome is this fascinating mixture of civilization evolving. The Roman legacy is indisputable in terms of adding to man's cultural, political, and scientific heritage and creating peace and prosperity where there was tribal war and lawlessness. But, beneath the toga's and the white marble, there was a brutish, primitive impulse to make war on others ... to impose their will on others and revel in their superior strength and valor. Rome thrived when the power of the brute was harnessed and controlled, and Rome suffered during times when the brute ran wild OR when the brute was extinguished. (less)

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Jun 12, 2009

'Aussie Rick' rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: history

Adrian Goldsworthy's latest book, "Caesar", is another one of those great books that you cannot afford to miss this year. Following on from his excellent run of books; "The Punic Wars" and "In The Name of Rome", this new title is a great addition to anyone's library.

The tale of Julius Caesar has been told before many times but I doubt as well as this in recent times. The research and story telling is exceptional. I found the book easy to read although i...more

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Apr 22, 2009

Michael rated it

· review of another edition

Historian Adrian Goldsworthy has written a detailed account of the life of Julius Caesar. He describes the trends in Roman political life leading up to the time of Caesar's birth and during Caesar's early years. This was a time in the Republic's history when the constitution of the Roman Republic was fracturing amid the growth of concentrated political power amongst a few individuals and the rise of corruption and political violence in the operation of the Republic. Goldworthy shows that rath...more

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Aug 21, 2011

Hal Carim rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Goldsworthy´s highly readable Big-Book biography CAESAR - Life of a Colossus covers his life and campaigns with that of Rome , its society, its politics, the Army from -100 until his assasination in -44.. Goldsworthy covers both Caesar´s political life as senator as well as commander in his campaigns to consolidate and extend the Roman frontiers in his various battles in Gaul with the final defeat of Vercingetorix, the two crossings into Britain; the civil war 49-44 C against Pompey; the Egyptia...more

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Aug 03, 2009

Wes O'Dell rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Wes by: Miriam Carlisle, Ph.D.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "Life of a Colossus" is an excellent one-volume survey of not only the career of Caesar, but of the decline and fall (or perhaps evolution) of the republic's institutions of government.

Goldsworthy's task at the outset was undoubtedly daunting. So much has been written about Caius Juilus Caesar over the last 2000 years that plotting a unique course and navigating around the shoals of banal regurgitation is in itself a tremendous challenge. Happily, he succeeds not only in co...more"Life of a Colossus" is an excellent one-volume survey of not only the career of Caesar, but of the decline and fall (or perhaps evolution) of the republic's institutions of government.

Goldsworthy's task at the outset was undoubtedly daunting. So much has been written about Caius Juilus Caesar over the last 2000 years that plotting a unique course and navigating around the shoals of banal regurgitation is in itself a tremendous challenge. Happily, he succeeds not only in communicating the historical events of the period in a fresh, readable style, but also in presenting a nuanced and evenhanded interpretation of Caesar's life and the last years of the republic that has often been absent from Caesarean scholarship since Sulla first uttered that there was "many a Marius" in young Caius.

Portraying an overall sympathetic portrait of a remarkably talented individual, Goldsworthy emphasizes that Caesar was no scoundrel or revolutionary--just an archetypal Roman aristocrat perhaps leavened with a progressive approach to solving the republic's problems and improving the state and the lives of its citizens through reform.

There are few flaws with Goldsworthy's effort. His writing style in extremely readable and makes the book accessible to both layman and scholar. As with any one-volume biography of one of history's most towering characters, however, it cannot avoid feeling somewhat abbreviated in some cases and rushed in others. The civil war in Spain against Cnaeus Pompey, for instance, is quickly glossed over due to the spotty evidence involved (understandably so) and the lives of Caesar's subordinates--especially Curio, Marcus Antonius, and Lepidus--seem somewhat glossed over in the interest of keeping the focus of the action on Caesar. These are all understandable artistic choices, but can still leave the reader feeling a bit jilted at various points depending upon which characters and subjects particularly spark his or her interest. A final criticism of the book deals with its last few pages dealing with Caesar in popular culture; far too short to even approach completeness, they would have been better omitted entirely or expanded into a serious essay.

"Life of a Colossus" is an excellent and approachable take on Caesar's life that is notable especially for its clear and readable style that presents a very balanced account of Caesar's life in a page-turning fashion.

--WBO 8/3/09(less)

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Mar 23, 2011

Pete daPixie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: history-roman

Where biography is concerned, it is certainly beneficial when the subject is a giant.
Caius Julius Caesar was such a colossus. The times through which Caesar lived were also monumental, which contributes to Adrian Goldsworthy's 'Caesar', making it's five hundred plus pages a compulsive read.
For me, the narrative took off when J.C. rose to Proconsulate status in 58bc and commanded the legions in Gaul. Throughout I have followed Caesars campaigns using Google Earth to locate the sites ...more

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Oct 11, 2009

LeAnn rated it

After reading Colleen McCullough's massive Masters of Rome series, I wanted to know more about Julius Caesar, a man she clearly greatly admires, and to know how her research stacks up against that of professional historians.

Except for a few instances, Goldsworthy's biography of JC confirms the accuracy of McCullough's novels (which he described as "racy," proving that Oxford-trained historians are a rather sheltered lot). Of course, he maintains an academic distance better...more

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Sep 09, 2010

Jeremy Neal rated it

· review of another edition

Possibly the greatest biography I have ever read, wonderful and totally engaging. I gave it to my brother after, and he loved it too.

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Jul 26, 2010

Nishant rated it

The focus is firmly on Caesar, his life, politics and military victories, and the book does a great job of explaining it all. It perhaps lacks a bit in painting a more vivid portrayal of the Roman world in that period, and is occasionally downright confusing, as it tried to pack in a lot without making an already long book, even longer.

Another quibble would be that Goldsworthy writes in the steady monotone of a historian: events occur without a change in tone, and there is little dra...more

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Jul 26, 2011

Dean Wangerin rated it

· review of another edition

If you can get through the first 150 pages, the rest of the book is fantastic. I knew that Caesar was one of the great generals of the ancient world, but I knew surprisingly little about him. This book paints a clear picture of the man who put the month "July" on the calendar.

The author is a military writer, and it shows. As soon as Caesar gets out of Rome and into the field, the book races along. From Caesar's campaigns in Gaul, to his ventures to the exotic lands of Br...more

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Nov 02, 2010

Elizabeth Sulzby rated it

Shelves: source-material, nonfiction

Bah. I have started this book twice, first in amplification of am skim-reading the first part to see if it fits with the biographies of Cicero that I have just finished. I went on to other related topics and started Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra. I found that boring and poorly written as well, so I started re-reading Goldsworthy's Caesar as a preparation for reading Goldsworthy's Antony and Cleopatra. Once again, I got bored. Now I am going to treat it as source material rather than a book to rea...more

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Dec 25, 2011

Juan-Pablo rated it

Complete History, just a little uneven

Goldsworthy is an apt writer, not at the levels of the masters but very readable. His Caesar is complete and well organized. The three main sections are almost the same length: “Rise to Consulship”, “Proconsul” (which covers mainly the Gaul and British campaigns) and “Civil War and Dictatorship”. This gives you an idea of the scope and depth of each section.

The first part is very good indeed. It discusses a lot of background and the setti...more

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Aug 14, 2011

Jonathan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, history

I finished reading this book a few months ago but I still keep picking it up and reading sections from it.

It was exactly what I was after when I originally picked it up: a concise biography of Julius Caesar together with enough explanation of the historical context - a brilliant 'Life and Times of Caesar'. Adrian Goldsworthy's style is clear and concise. Some may find it a bit dull but for me it was perfect for the subject matter.

I started reading the book with only a sk...more

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Jun 26, 2010

Randy rated it

· review of another edition

Ancient history wasn't my thing in college, but I've always made an exception for the late republic/early empire period during which Caesar, Augustus, and their friends rocked western civilization. Goldsworthy's "Caesar: Life of a Colossus" nicely sets the stage on which Caesar acted. The Roman Republic from around 100 B.C. on was turbulent, violent, corrupt, and litigious, all of which played into Caesar's taking of power in 49-46 B.C. Caesar crossed the Rubicon and led troops into ...moreAncient history wasn't my thing in college, but I've always made an exception for the late republic/early empire period during which Caesar, Augustus, and their friends rocked western civilization. Goldsworthy's "Caesar: Life of a Colossus" nicely sets the stage on which Caesar acted. The Roman Republic from around 100 B.C. on was turbulent, violent, corrupt, and litigious, all of which played into Caesar's taking of power in 49-46 B.C. Caesar crossed the Rubicon and led troops into Italy and Rome in order to avoid being prosecuted for various offenses before he could take office as consul, the office to which he had arraged to be elected. Nothing any more or less glorious than this set into motion the series of events culminating in Caesar's taking of power, his assassination, and the subsequent--and most unlikely--rise to absolute power of Augustus Caesar.

Caesar emerges in Goldworthy's biography as no more violent or oppressive than his optimate opponents in the Senate; rather, in opposition to some of those dudes, he comes off as somewhat generous, reformist, and personally kind. On the other hand, his campaigns in Gaul--for which Caesar himself provided the main historical source material--were frequently brutal beyond belief. Even here, however, Caesar is shown in context as a man of his times.

Contrafactual thinking about "what ifs" in history is frequently a complete waste of time, but here it is worth pondering what the history of Europe and, especially, the history of Christianity would have been like had Caesar lost to the optimates at Pharsalus or Thalsus, or--a few years later--had Otavian and Antony lost to Cassius and Brutus at Philippi. Would Paul have had anyplace to go with Jesus' gospel had the Roman Republic remained fragmented and disconnected? Would my ancestors have been painting themselves blue, putting up weird rock circles, and otherwise behaving as if they were at Burning Man instead of plundering Spanish booty on the Bounding Main? Would the Eurpoean state system have developed at all?

Anyway, I liked the book. (less)

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Mar 17, 2011

Ken rated it

· review of another edition

I thought this was a pretty interesting book. Gives the life of Caesar from his teens till his death is 44BC at 56.

The book is pretty dry, lots of facts and dates and names. Unfortunately between the time he lived and now a lot of records have gone by the wayside and with Caesar having such a polarizing effect on people his biographers either demonized him or praised him. The author looked at all the information, and Caesar's own writings and makes a pretty good biography. The book w...more

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Jan 29, 2010

Steven Peterson rated it

· review of another edition

Goldsworthy's book provides a detailed view of Caesar's life. Where details are sparse, he uses good sense in trying to fill in the blanks, appropriately noting where the gaps in the record lie. The volume begins by describing the status of the Republic before Caesar's story begins. This includes the institutions of government and the increasing serious internal problems, with murder and assassination as more typical of "regime change" than is good for a stable polity. The role of the ...moreGoldsworthy's book provides a detailed view of Caesar's life. Where details are sparse, he uses good sense in trying to fill in the blanks, appropriately noting where the gaps in the record lie. The volume begins by describing the status of the Republic before Caesar's story begins. This includes the institutions of government and the increasing serious internal problems, with murder and assassination as more typical of "regime change" than is good for a stable polity. The role of the Senate is well described.

After setting the stage, Caesar's story is put into context. One key issue was his association with the popularis and the hostility of some of the elite of Rome toward Caesar as a result. On page 105, the author notes that "Caesar had from early in his career inclined toward a popularis path. . . ."

He held his first public office in 72 or 71 B. C. Shortly thereafter, he began to ally with Pompey the Great and, later, with Crassus in the First Triumvirate. He also began a habit of spending a great deal of money to generate support from Romans. This led to a situation where he was often risking great and even crushing debt in order to build support. Normally, the risk was rewarded with success over the course of his career.

The book goes on to discuss in nice detail Caesar's assignment in Gaul. Over a period of time, he accumulated a record of great success in fighting the Gauls and making Rome's hegemony in the region stable. His work also generated nice revenues for Rome and loot for his troops. Upon the completion of years of service in Gaul, he expected proper recognition. When the political climate became sour, he "crossed the Rubicon" with some of his troops and established his political dominance. The ups and downs of Caesar trying to overcome the army of Pompey, his former partner, and stabilizing the frontier (in Egypt, where he consorted with Cleopatra) and the east.

Upon his return to Rome he was preparing to return to the east when he was assassinated. His popularis tendencies appear to have been a part of that as well as a fear by many in the elite that Caesar was to become a dictator.

This is a nice volume on the period and on Caesar as a person. The book does a fine job of placing Caesar in the context of the increasingly problematic republic. Goldsworthy writes well and the end product is well worth a look by those interested in the subject and the time.
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Oct 24, 2008

Erik rated it

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This is the first big fat biography I've read in many years, and I highly enjoyed it. Goldsworthy was authoritative without overreaching; if the historical record was spare on certain points, he said so. I ended the book with a much more positive impression of Caesar than when I started it. I'd always thought of him as being obsessed with power, and that was about it. And while that was of course a key part of his life, I was impressed to learn the extent to which he inspired loyalty in his troo...more

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Jun 06, 2011

John Hibbs rated it

"Life of a Colossus" is a pretty apt description of Caesar's life. He changed the course of history and led to the fall of the Roman Republic, transformed into the Empire.

I found this book highly enjoyable. It covers Caesar's entire life from speculation about his early childhood and his first forays into the world of Roman politics. One of his most famous achievements was during his tenure of Transalpine Gaul in which he conquered all of Gaul bringing it into the Republic an...more

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Mar 01, 2011

Ed rated it

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A very well done account not only of Caesar's life, but also the age in which he lived. The writing is clear and the level of detail is appropriate. Some may think that too much time is spent on the wars of Gaul, but they were a very important part of his life and career. The strangeness of the ancient world is presented here in a matter of fact way, that is neither judgmental nor exculpatory. The author makes every attempt to set Caesar's decisions in the context of the world in which he li...more

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Sep 05, 2010

David rated it

Shelves: classical-history, biography

It's a good introduction but, like many classical biographies, remains highly speculative about the personal life of Gaius and especially his early life...because of this is of limited value in understanding the man. But it remains a good and useful introduction to not only the man but also the age of the civil wars in Roman history and the death of the Republic...important information for the Post-Bush Age.

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Mar 29, 2011

Diego Castañeda rated it

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El mejor libro que he leído de historia romana referente al periodo del fin de la república, desde Los conflictos entre Mario, Cinna y Sulla y sus reformas políticas a principios del siglo I AC hasta el asesinado de Cesar en el 44 AC. revisa la vida de Cesar desde su inicio hasta su muerte y en el proceso describe muy claramente a la sociedad romana de ese periodo, sus tradiciones y costumbres y particularmente su clase política. Sin duda un gran libro muy recomendable para todo aquel interesado...more

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Dec 06, 2010

Matthew Copple is currently reading it

I am enjoying the book. It doesn't break any new ground, but since we've had the sources for Caesar's campaigns and life for the last 2,000 years, I really wasn't expecting it anyway. What I did expect, however, was a detailed, thoroughly-researched work that would illuminate not only Caesar's life, but the world in which he lived. I am happy to say that thus far, the book is all of the above.

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Aug 17, 2009

Bettie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ancient-history, biography, fraudio, history, nonfiction, published-2006

mp3 - showroom read; unabridged; 27.5 hours

This is a scholarly rendition and as such, is coming over rather dry. Thoroughly researched and the politics of the time excellently delivered but still not sure that I will wade through every word.

ETA - This would be brilliant for university students but not for me at this time.

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Jun 11, 2009

Wes rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: world-hisotry

This is a lot of book. I still have not officially "finished" it, but I reference it often. They really break down every aspect of the man, before he crossed the Rhine and changed history, to his short reign as emperor. A good read, but a lot to read.

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About Adrian Goldsworthy

aka Adrian Keith Goldsworthy.

Adrian Goldsworthy (born 1969) is a British historian and military writer. After studying at St John's College, Oxford), he completed a Ph.D in ancient military history in 1994. Goldsworthy is the author of several books on the subject.

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Books by Adrian Goldsworthy

In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2485618.Caesar?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328826307m/2485618.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2485618.Caesar?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Caesar: Life Of A Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy[/url]

Caesar: Life Of A Colossus

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