Caesar: A Novel [Hardcover]

Colleen McCullough (Author)

Book Description

Series: Masters of Rome/Colleen Mccullough | Publication Date: December 3, 1997

It is 54 B.C. Gaius Julius Caesar is sweeping through Gaul, crushing the fierce, long-haired warrior-kings who stand in his way. His victories in the name of Rome are epic, but the leaders of the Republic are not pleased - they are terrified. Where will the boundless ambition of Rome's most brilliant soldier stop? He must be destroyed before he can overthrow the government and install himself as Dictator.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The fifth volume of McCullough's continuing saga of the history of Rome meets the stellar standards she has set in her earlier books (e.g., Caesar's Women, LJ 12/95). It opens in 54 B.C., with Caesar civilizing and romanizing the different tribes in Britannia and Gaul. After five years of almost constant warfare, Caesar turns all his political brilliance to defeating Pompey, his former son-in-law, who wants to strip Caesar of his power. McCullough clearly loves her subject and has done voluminous research, smoothly interweaving the vast number of facts into the narrative. She gives us a living Caesar, the superb military tactician and the man who cried at his mother's and daughter's deaths. It's not hard to see why his troops (and many women) loved him. The novel is further enriched by McCullough's hand-drawn maps, illustrations of major players, and useful glossary. Essential for historical fiction collections.
-?Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The story of Caesar's Gallic Wars (roughly 5851 b.c.) and return to Rome warfare, followed fictively and, in the main, meticulously, from Caesar's Commentaries. Again, the portraits are memorable--from Brutus (here, a money-mad ``wet fish'' with acne) to Cleopatra (scrawny, ugly, calmly plotting fratricide)--and the politicking is showy, sly, witty, and often deadly. At the close of Caesar's Women (1996), McCullough's fourth massive staging of the power wrests and wrestlings of mighty men of ancient Rome, Julius Caesar, a true colossus of skill and brilliance, had left for ``Further Gaul.'' Now, while mopping up the revolts in his detested Britannia of ``blue-painted relics,'' he receives word from Pompey the Great, First Man in Rome and husband of Caesar's lovely daughter Julia, that Julia and his mother are dead. Grief drains him, but oddly he grows in strength, proceeding to un-Romanized Gaul, pacifying tribe after tribe, and eventually defeating Vercingetorix, an ambitious but inexperienced leader out to unite Gaul, who would not accept Caesar's offer of Rome's ``light rein'' in a ``shrinking world.'' While Caesar with his beloved legions win Gaul with extraordinary tactics and hardship, his foes in Rome have swung Pompey--once a Golden Boy, now tarnished with fatuous conceit and lack of political savvy--to their cause, which is, simply, to destroy Caesar. Although scrupulous in his observance of law, Caesar crosses the Rubicon to become Rome's aggressor. (McCullough appropriately uses Plutarch's account of his utterance: ``Let the dice fly high!'' instead of the gloomy ``The die is cast.'') While temporarily Dictator, afterward, Caesar pursues Pompey's armies until the Great One's sad end. In the wings for Book Six: the gorgeous Mark Antony, slinky Octavius, and Cleopatra. Rewarding but rugged terrain for the casual reader. Armchair generals, though, should love this--perhaps with De bello Gallico at the ready. Maps, glossary, and photos of sculptured portraits of the time. (Book-of-the-Month Club alternate selection/Quality Paperback Book Club selection) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 752 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (December 3, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688093728
• ISBN-13: 978-0688093723
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars McCullough puts oomph back into the Masters of Rome series, August 28, 2000

By 

Shantell Powell "The ShanMonster" (Kitchener, ON, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Caesar: Let the Dice Fly (Masters of Rome, Book 5) (Paperback)

Just when I was losing faith in the Masters of Rome series, Colleen McCullough throws in some oomph. Caesar brings the ancient battles to life, and shows Gaius Julius Caesar at his most powerful. I think McCullough's strength is in her battle scenes. Even when there is little bloodshed, she does a wonderful job of describing military strategy and tactics. The book is worth reading if only for this.

Caesar shows the return of a writing technique McCullough hasn't shown since The Grass Crown: she includes the point of view of a foreign enemy. In this case, it is Vercingetorix, king of "united Gaul." Although I knew he was doomed from the beginning, I couldn't help but admire his valour and tenacity. It would have been nice if equal attention had been paid to Cathbad, the chief Druid.

The main problem I have with Caesar is the blatant worship of the title character. In McCullough's writings, he can do no wrong. Although I enjoy reading about his great military achievements, it would be awfully nice if he was humanized a tad more. He's just too perfect, and a thin head of hair isn't nearly enough to bring him down to our level. I'm afraid he's become some sort of mortal Superman, and none of the villains happen to have a vial of Kryptonite.

The other problem I have with the book is related to Caesar's hero-worship. Where Caesar and his supporters are portrayed in a in overtly positive ways, his detractors are seen as peevish, jealous, and frankly, rather dumb. I have a difficult time believing the enemies of Caesar were so lacking in positive traits. By the end of the novel, Pompeius Magnus, who started out as a likeable and able general (albeit very temperamental), becomes a whingeing and bullied fool. I think this is a shame. It is also a shame that Cato receives so little personal attention. I think he could be a very sympathetic character if only the attention was paid to him.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Caesar: A historical novel, December 17, 1999

By 

Rosie (Wales, Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caesar: Let the Dice Fly (Masters of Rome, Book 5) (Paperback)

As a history student, I initially mistook 'Caesar' the novel as an actual historical biography. I had a pleasant surprise in store for me. Many historical novels just have ideas about character presentation, not about wars fought or politics. McCullough is a refreshing change, and puts a whole new outlook upon the novelization of history.

It must be said, however, that McCullough's Caesar is an altogether infuriating character - a hero so handsome, so clever, so calm and unflinching to be somewhat unrealistic. Even his friends and allies are presented as being rather hopeless in comparison. The magnificant Pompey the Great as an unsubtle blunderhead from the country, Cicero a weak, wavering man, Mark Antony foolish and impulsive, Cato a raving lunatic - all characteristics handed down throughout history, yes, but these men were more than this and it is a pity that these great historical figures are not given their due. Opinion is unavoidable when writing about history, of course, but one might be tempted to question whether the affairs in ancient Rome at this time were such that one man alone could resolve them, whilst the others tried to stop him. Difficult to justify!

That said, this is overall one of the most impressive pieces of work I have read. The writing style is incredible - read about Clodius' death on the Via Appia, or Fulvia's reaction on learning that her beloved second husband is dead. You'll soon see what I mean. The characters, despite coming from a remote age, are accessible characters whom we can relate too, facing the same joys, fears and problems that we are facing today. I cannot reccomend this book strongly enough even for those who are not experts on Roman history. Read it - you'll sooon feel as if you are!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Let the Dice Fly High" rolls a 7!", December 1, 1997

By 

Joe Conlon (High School English teacher Warsaw, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Caesar: A Novel (Hardcover)

In this fifth book of the First Man In Rome series Julius Caesar leaves Rome for the Gallic Wars. The scene shifts between Gaul and Rome as the "Boni" or "Good Men" continue their machinations to destroy Caesar. Pompey Magnus goes from Caesar's ally to his nemesis.

McCullough's greatest gift is to make history come alive. Her characters are not the dry dust of high school history or Latin classes but spring from the page with ambition and passion. My greatest complaint is that she writes so slowly. I've waited two years for this episode to arrive and now I'll have to wait for the next. This entire series is a must read for anyone who is interested in Rome and Romans. McCullough's research is superb and when you finish, your understanding of how Rome ruled the world for 1300 years will have reached your gut level.