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The Conquest of Gaul
The earliest eye-witness account of Britain and its inhabitants appears in these famous memoirs.
Betweeen 58 and 50 BC Julius Caesar not only conquered almost the whole of modern France, Belgium and Switzerland, with parts of Holland and Germany, but also invaded Britain twice. It was partly as a piece of personal propaganda that he recorded his campaigns against the variou
...morePaperback, 269 pages
Published
December 9th 1982
by Penguin Classics
(first published -50)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30 of 3,000)
Sep 01, 2015
Jan-Maat
added it
This is what I was brought to by a childhood of reading Asterix.
Unlike Asterix the injuries aren't restricted to black eyes and broken bones, nor is there a big feast at the end. The warfare is savage and at the end Caesar tumbles into the civil war that ends the Roman republic.
The fighting is savage on both sides. One of the Gaulish leaders, Vercingetorix, has the ears cut off or an eye gouged out of his own soldiers "even for a minor fault" (p157), Roman civilians are massacred on occasion whi ...more
Unlike Asterix the injuries aren't restricted to black eyes and broken bones, nor is there a big feast at the end. The warfare is savage and at the end Caesar tumbles into the civil war that ends the Roman republic.
The fighting is savage on both sides. One of the Gaulish leaders, Vercingetorix, has the ears cut off or an eye gouged out of his own soldiers "even for a minor fault" (p157), Roman civilians are massacred on occasion whi ...more
“In the end, it is impossible not to become what others believe you are.”
― Julius Caesar

I kept jumping back and forth between my Loeb Classics version of The Gallic War and my Penguin Classics version of The Conquest of Gaul. Reading Caesar makes me want to go back and learn Latin (the Loeb Classics keep seductively singing to me of the benefits of a Latin education). Anyway, I only meant to start the The Conquest of Gaul today, but the compelling narrative of Caesar's Gallic War (the record of ...more
― Julius Caesar

I kept jumping back and forth between my Loeb Classics version of The Gallic War and my Penguin Classics version of The Conquest of Gaul. Reading Caesar makes me want to go back and learn Latin (the Loeb Classics keep seductively singing to me of the benefits of a Latin education). Anyway, I only meant to start the The Conquest of Gaul today, but the compelling narrative of Caesar's Gallic War (the record of ...more
A classic for many reasons.
Caesar is, first of all, a masterful writer. As so many other reviewers have said, the pace is cracking. He offers an adept mix of strategy and tactics discussions, actual battle scenes, politics within his own command, and both military and ethnographic descriptions of the Gauls. His timing in switching from one to the other is perfect. Caesar is unbelievably visual in the battle scenes. Just the words paint an easily understood picture of the terrain and the distribu ...more
Caesar is, first of all, a masterful writer. As so many other reviewers have said, the pace is cracking. He offers an adept mix of strategy and tactics discussions, actual battle scenes, politics within his own command, and both military and ethnographic descriptions of the Gauls. His timing in switching from one to the other is perfect. Caesar is unbelievably visual in the battle scenes. Just the words paint an easily understood picture of the terrain and the distribu ...more
Jan 14, 2014
Brian
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Brian by:
William T. Vollmann
Shelves:
ruard_referred
In his excellent intro to his translation of this text, Handford gives the reader a good glimpse of just how exceptional a person Julius Caesar was. Incomparable field general, adept politician, accomplished statesman, a very real care for the advancement of Roman civilization / improvements for its citizens - AND the dude can write? "No other great general of antiquity has left us his own accounts of his campaigns," Handford writes, "and it is doubtful if any other great general, of any age or
...more
Nothing better represents Caesar's understanding of how to play upon the hopes and joys of man than the fact that he was able to turn a few hundred pages of troop movements into a thoughtful, engrossing narrative. We read not only Caesar's thoughts and intentions in the work, but also gain an invaluable view of Roman politics. In his own words, Caesar sets the scene for the events which soon overtook the empire and captured the imagination of western literature for thousands of years to come.
If ...more
If ...more
How I feel after finishing this: I R SMRT.
I was surprised how readable this was, but the difference between Caesar's style and Hirtius' (who completed the narrative of the final rebellion) was obvious. I positively zinged through the last chapter whereas the part written by Caesar required concentration. You zoned out for a split second and you missed crucial information. That man was really stingy with his words - every single one counted.
Caesar's obvious political tightrope-walking was apparen ...more
I was surprised how readable this was, but the difference between Caesar's style and Hirtius' (who completed the narrative of the final rebellion) was obvious. I positively zinged through the last chapter whereas the part written by Caesar required concentration. You zoned out for a split second and you missed crucial information. That man was really stingy with his words - every single one counted.
Caesar's obvious political tightrope-walking was apparen ...more
Not only was Caesar a master self-promoter and consummate politician, but he could wield the pen with a stylistic flourish: The Gallic Wars hums along in double time, marching the reader through the entire lengthy invasion and pacification campaign of non-Narbonensis Gaul. Really, Caesar offers it all—a foretaste of the Caesarian Cycle in the story of the migratory horde of the Helvetii and their fiercely contested clash with the Roman will, resulting in a thorough Julian chastisement; then a pe
...more
Julius Caesar, the Roman geezer, lays omnis Gallia waste with his customary clemency, celerity, and efficiency. The Gallic War is a startling read, no less for its cracking pace and clear style, than for its shameless brutality and its unblushing depiction of greed and violence on an international scale: entire governments executed, civilian populations enslaved en masse, mass mutilations ... you get the feeling sometimes that that you're reading the diaries Hitler would have written, if he had
...more
There's nothing like a semi-truthful book by one of history's greatest sleaze-bags, old Julius himself. No doubt he dictated this to his secretary (Strabo?) while on campaign, the style of war that amassed 340,000 dead Germans in one afternoon. Not bad going. If he had a week at his leisure, he could have wiped out the entire race. Then where would we be? No schnaaps! No English language! (quiz: which is more important?)
This is a fun read. You can count the dead as you go along; and the methods ...more
This is a fun read. You can count the dead as you go along; and the methods ...more
Having taken three years of high school Latin, fifty years later, a couple of years ago, I decided to relearn my Latin and begin reading works of classical antiquity in their original languages. I’ve not yet made it to learning Greek, but the Latin is progressing. Most students of Latin will recall having read Caesar’s The Gallic War as their first literary work. I found that what I read then was both abbreviated and heavily edited. Now I’ve read the work in its entirety, and it has been great f
...more
A very rich text! There are some aspects that caught my eyes but I feel that I'm incapable of elaborating on any of them, so I'll just pose a few question marks in my review.
1. The control of passion.
I kept hearing Carl von Clausewitz's voiceover throughout the book: "Gentlemen, feels are important!"
There are many battles in the book justifying this teaching. There was one time when the Gallic people, under attack and basically overwhelmed by Roman army, tried to perform a "tactical retreat". Bu ...more
1. The control of passion.
I kept hearing Carl von Clausewitz's voiceover throughout the book: "Gentlemen, feels are important!"
There are many battles in the book justifying this teaching. There was one time when the Gallic people, under attack and basically overwhelmed by Roman army, tried to perform a "tactical retreat". Bu ...more
This is a complete Latin edition of Commentarii de Bello Gallico, with no English translation. It contains all seven books, and the eighth book written by Aulus Hirtius, possibly to link the narrative to the De Bello Civilis.
Much has been written on why Caesar composed this work. The word “commentarius” gives a reason, as it indicates a type of writing which is between raw data, such as reports, notes or letters and a more artistic type of composition, such as a history. In some of the secondary ...more
Much has been written on why Caesar composed this work. The word “commentarius” gives a reason, as it indicates a type of writing which is between raw data, such as reports, notes or letters and a more artistic type of composition, such as a history. In some of the secondary ...more
Regarding my earlier notes: I don't think I read this book. I think my husband read this book. I think the notes are his. That's the only thing that makes any sense.
This was a great little book. Caesar isn't one to get wordy. He just tells you what happened and why. He refrains from too much cataloging of arms and armament (unlike Churchill, omg). His observations about the Gauls and the Germans are interesting and devoid of the annoying veil of political correctness. He isn't obscenely bombasti ...more
This was a great little book. Caesar isn't one to get wordy. He just tells you what happened and why. He refrains from too much cataloging of arms and armament (unlike Churchill, omg). His observations about the Gauls and the Germans are interesting and devoid of the annoying veil of political correctness. He isn't obscenely bombasti ...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
The Conquest of Gaul is Julius Caesar’s firsthand account of the Gallic Wars, fought between 58 and 50 b.c. Part history and part political propaganda, the book follows Caesar and his legions as they fight their merry way through Belgium, France, Switzerland, and even England. Incidentally, this book used to be much more famous back in the day when everybody had to learn Latin: apparently, Caesar’s no nonsense writing is ideal for learning the language.
It is less well known now, and frankly tha ...more
It is less well known now, and frankly tha ...more
Quintilian said of Caesar that, he alone could have rivalled Cicero for his elegance of language and purity of style. I dont know about his Latin but, judging by how 'The Conquest of Gaul' translates in English I take his word for it! A straightforward yet epic narrative where anthropology, geography and above all campaigns' diary and military accounts are all mixed together in an exciting tale of the Gallic Wars, fast paced and riveting these commentaries will glue you up to the last page.
More ...more
More ...more
Julio César narra los 8 años de campañas militares para la conquista de las Galias, describe las circunstancias políticas y culturales de los pueblos galos, sus costumbres en la guerra y sus relaciones entre ellos. Es una muestra de la sagaz mente estratégica de César para derrotar naciones enteras que le superaban en hombres y conocían mejor el terreno.
De lectura fácil por una gran traducción al español y por lo buen escritor que era César. Los primeros 7 libros desde el inicio de la campaña ha ...more
De lectura fácil por una gran traducción al español y por lo buen escritor que era César. Los primeros 7 libros desde el inicio de la campaña ha ...more
Dec 20, 2012
Thomas
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-for-high-school,
nonfiction
Not sure whether I should classify this as nonfiction. A well-written piece of propaganda I read for my AP Latin class - Caesar sure knows how to entertain with his descriptions of battle and debauchery. And by debauchery, I mean bloodshed and weird ritual sacrifices.
Fans of Roman and military history will eat this up.
Fans of Roman and military history will eat this up.
The Conquest of Gaul
Julias Caesar
Read it in mass market paperback at 256 including suggested reading.
When reading through Goldsworthy's very worthy Caesar, he pays particular attention to using Caesar's own words during the conquest. Going as far to talk about enough things without direct quotations that I wanted to read the Conquest of Gaul in its entirety from the man that bent and broke it into a province of Rome. Luckily his words have survived.
Julias doesn't disappoint. While Proconsul, Jul ...more
Julias Caesar
Read it in mass market paperback at 256 including suggested reading.
When reading through Goldsworthy's very worthy Caesar, he pays particular attention to using Caesar's own words during the conquest. Going as far to talk about enough things without direct quotations that I wanted to read the Conquest of Gaul in its entirety from the man that bent and broke it into a province of Rome. Luckily his words have survived.
Julias doesn't disappoint. While Proconsul, Jul ...more
"Caesar was not and is not lovable. His generosity to defeated opponents, magnanimous though it was, did not win their affection. He won his soldiers’ devotion by the victories that his intellectual ability, applied to warfare, brought them. Yet, though not lovable, Caesar was and is attractive, indeed fascinating. His political achievement required ability, in effect amounting to genius, in several different fields, including administration and generalship besides the minor arts of wire pulling ...more
Siendo éste uno de los libros del canon, he de reconocer que no me ha defraudado. Lamento únicamente no saber latín para leerlo en su lengua original, ya que tiene que ser una delicia leer a Julio César tal y como escribió.
"La Galia, en su conjuntto, está dividida en tres partes, de las cuales una la habitan los belgas, otra los aquitanos, ... y otra los galos..."
De esta manera comienza César su crónica en siete libros, además del octavo añadido por Aulo Hircio, que cierra la conquista de la Gal ...more
"La Galia, en su conjuntto, está dividida en tres partes, de las cuales una la habitan los belgas, otra los aquitanos, ... y otra los galos..."
De esta manera comienza César su crónica en siete libros, además del octavo añadido por Aulo Hircio, que cierra la conquista de la Gal ...more
The first time that I tried reading this it was painful to get through. I tend to have better luck listening to a lot of the classic works with very antiquated writing styles than I do reading them. Lucky for me this is available from Librivox.org where I listened to it for free.
Caesar's classic work written in the third person about his conquest of Gaul. It's hard to say that he doesn't take advantage of the opportunity (opportunist that he was) and talk himself up. I can't blame him because no ...more
Caesar's classic work written in the third person about his conquest of Gaul. It's hard to say that he doesn't take advantage of the opportunity (opportunist that he was) and talk himself up. I can't blame him because no ...more
Since we no longer are required to take Latin in school, Caesar doesn’t get read like he used to. If you take a course in the Ancient World or The Classical World or, even more specifically, Roman History, you are much more likely to be assigned Suetonius or Tacitus, even Robert Graves, than Caesar. It’s a shame because Juilius could write quite nicely. What’s more he had a soldier’s respect for his opponents, be they Gauls, Britains, or Germans—all of whom fight stubbornly to resist the charms
...more
Sep 03, 2010
Totadigi
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
yes
Recommended to Totadigi by:
Daughter
CAESAR
THE GALLIC WAR
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
H.J. EDWARDS, C.B.
This may be the eighth time I have read this book during my life it was sent to me falling apart stamped to be discarded rescued by my daughter who I no doubt talked to about it. More or less translated from the campaign journals of C. JULIUS CEASAR 58 through 51 B.C., it covers nine years of bloody Roman conquest in the land of ancient Gaul (modern day France), Germany and Britain. For Caesar the only path to power lay through ...more
THE GALLIC WAR
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
H.J. EDWARDS, C.B.
This may be the eighth time I have read this book during my life it was sent to me falling apart stamped to be discarded rescued by my daughter who I no doubt talked to about it. More or less translated from the campaign journals of C. JULIUS CEASAR 58 through 51 B.C., it covers nine years of bloody Roman conquest in the land of ancient Gaul (modern day France), Germany and Britain. For Caesar the only path to power lay through ...more
A bit of history, propaganda, shameless self promotion. So what else is new when it comes to politicians, especially ones with military support? Julius Caesar was well versed in the effective use of force, of the diplomatic threat of force, the usefulness of hostages, terrain, the economical use of resources in battle. For instance, defeating an opponent from a distance with slings is far more economical than getting up close--rocks are virtually free for the picking and every soldier was well s
...more
May 15, 2013
Katerina
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
recensioni,
classici
Cesare, fonte di salvezza al liceo perchè scrive chiaro, non come Cicerone che gioca con la sintassi come se fosse il lego. Cesare, che tutti ricordiamo più di Ottaviano (universalmente riconosciuto come il politico più geniale della storia del mondo). Cesare, che perdere con onore contro di lui vuol dire che potevi prendere a calci in culo la maggior parte della gente. Cesare, che sotto sotto Asterix ci sta sulle palle perchè lo ridicolizza ma quando studiamo tifiamo per Vercingetorige.
Non si p ...more
Non si p ...more
This a very engaging set historical reports of Caesar's Conquest of Gaul.
When Caesar was writing this himself he was using it as a propaganda for himself back in Rome with the people and certain members of the Senate. While there are clear elements of propoganda; Caesars reports are fairly balanced with only a few cases of selected reporting (such as his assertion that his entrance of Gaul was a peace-keeping mission).
Caesar himself is a very gifted writer using a very plain and carefully constr ...more
When Caesar was writing this himself he was using it as a propaganda for himself back in Rome with the people and certain members of the Senate. While there are clear elements of propoganda; Caesars reports are fairly balanced with only a few cases of selected reporting (such as his assertion that his entrance of Gaul was a peace-keeping mission).
Caesar himself is a very gifted writer using a very plain and carefully constr ...more
Time-travelling with Julius. His account on the Gallian Wars read like they were recorded with a dictaphone on horseback or in his tent. Very precise and absolutely free of humour -which makes it almost funny. The most enjoyable bits are: The beginning, when the Helvetians (all of them!) leave their country (and only scorched earth) behind, wanting to move to the Dordogne in Southwestern France. Julius would not let them. And the part when he tries to invade England for the first time, because h
...more
I was surprised at how engaging this actually is. This tells the story of Caesar's wars in Gaul, which led up to his attempt at assuming absolute power over the Roman Empire. It tells how the war began, and provides many details concerning Roman warfare, the legions, and even provides interesting perspectives on the peoples Caesar fought against.
While there is much useful historical information, keep in mind it's written by a politician who had his own interests in mind.
I recommend it for anybo ...more
While there is much useful historical information, keep in mind it's written by a politician who had his own interests in mind.
I recommend it for anybo ...more
Caesar demonstrates the literary and military skill that were part of the package that lead to him taking over Roman Republic and forging the Roman Empire. A fascinating work of military history, travel writing, ethnography and propaganda. This book was presented in the tradition of military commentarii, log books that would be used as the basis of a proper history later, but it was so well written that Cicero said there was nothing left for an historian to do and to write on the subject would l
...more
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Gaius Julius Caesar (pronounced [ˈɡaː.i.us ˈjuːli.us ˈkaɪsar] in Classical Latin; conventionally /ˈɡaɪ.əs ˈdʒuːli.əs ˈsiːzər/ in English) was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.
As a politician, Caesar made use of popularist tactics. During the late 60s and into the 50s BC, he formed political alliances ...more
More about Gaius Iulius Caesar...
As a politician, Caesar made use of popularist tactics. During the late 60s and into the 50s BC, he formed political alliances ...more
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“Cuando lleguemos a ese río, ya hablaremos de ese puente.”
—
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“He therefore built a bridge over the Saône and led his army across. Alarmed by his unexpected arrival and seeing that he had effected in one day the crossing which they had the greatest difficulty in accomplishing in twenty days,”
—
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