In this captivating and eloquent masterpiece, Julius Caeser gives a year-by-year account of his seven years in Gaul, keeping the Celts in line, advancing unsuccessfully across the English channel and the Rhine, and putting down a major rebellion organized by the Arverni king Vercingetorix.

One can see why Roman letters set the high standard of eloquence that European scholars would look to for over a thousand years. The clarity and precision of Caeser's writing are extremely admirable, and have been rendered by our translator into elegant and clear English. Despite being a novice to martial exploits as well as Roman history, I was easily able to follow the events and was captivated by the Roman army's strategic powers and the modern sense I got from Caeser's cold realpolitik view of how to treat the Gallic Celts.

It's intriguing to read him faithfully record the objections of a rebel who protests to Rome's belligerent expansionism, and makes no bones about conquoring what nations they can for no greater reason than because they can. It's interesting to see national ideology displace mythology as the justification for conquest, and while the results are the same for the conquered nation, at least it doesn't seem crazy as the wild-eyed zealotry of self-styled chosen peoples.

Caeser's humanity comes through alongside his ruthlessness, too, and he often treats his vanquished foes with a surprising degree of forbearance, even in the face of startling betrayals.

Simply an outstanding read. I look forward to reading his account of the Civil War next.