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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A WORTHWHILE DIVERSION FOR THE STUDENT OF ROMAN LITERATURE,
By A Customer
This review is from: Augustus (Paperback)
While honeymooning in Scotland in 1992 I came across this fine book in a bookstore. At the time I was reading Virgil and admitted to myself I needed a break. In my readings I had read about the famous Roman emperor, Augustus, so this book sparked my interest. While Massie's book is a work of fiction, it seems to closely follow recorded information that has come across the centuries about Augustus. Massie has the rare writers' talent of weaving historical fact into a most interesting fiction. The story is believable, readable, and never once reminds the reader of a textbook. Destined to be made into a movie
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A very un-Roman "Augustus",
By EB (New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Augustus (Paperback)
Oh, my... I started reading Allan Massie's "Augustus" and I absolutely can't stomach it. Practically everything about it reads, and feels, "wrong" -- from the phony forward commenting on the supposed authentication and Massie's "translation" of the "newly discovered" autobiography of Augustus, to (and most especially) the very, very un-Roman personal habits, ways of thinking, attitudes, and very anachronistic preconceptions the author gives his characters and their conversations. This type of "historical fiction" is worlds away from the scholarly efforts of Graves, McCullough, Renault, and even Saylor.It's so bad that it may be impossible for anyone with more than a passing familiarity with the actual ancient Rome (as opposed to the popular "Hollywood" version) to achieve the required "suspension of disbelief" necessary for enjoyment of historical fiction. I myself cannot, and so I will not be continuing with this book. It is because haven't finished it that I am giving the book the benefit of the doubt by awarding two stars instead of only one. If anyone here wants to read it, and hasn't bought their copy yet, I've got one for sale -- cheap!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book,
By
This review is from: Augustus (Paperback)
His book Augustus is a vivid, detailed account from the view of Octavian. The book is brilliantly written, and while typical in its wavering authensity in the genre of historical fiction, at the same time, Massie manages to keep the facts straight. It's not exactly the same calibar as I, Claudius, which has that almost Dicksonian criminals likability index, Octavius still comes across as someone real, charming yet troubled, proud yet somewhat conflicted. The character is well developed and the events follow smoothly one after the other. More importantly, Augustus is highly idealized in this book. So much so in fact, that with all the angst and success in his life, the reader is eased into sympathizing with him on every occasion. It is a very selective history, one aimed to popularize Augustus no doubt. A view that was somewhat shattered when reading the true, historical Caesar. All in all, it's good fun, and the realistically described Roman settings, and supporting characters comes across without hiccups. The writing style however, left something to be desired, though the use of Augustan expressions makes up for it.
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