I, Caesar: Ruling the Roman Empire [Hardcover]

Phil Grabsky (Author), Philip Rance (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

Charting the rise and fall of Roman power over 500 years through the public and private lives of six of the Empire's rulers, this book focuses in turn on Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero, Hadrian, Constantine and Justinian. It tells a story of battles, bribery, brilliance and back-stabbing, both literal and figurative. The lives of these six rulers exemplify the most sophisticated heights and the cruellest lows of the Roman Empire's inception, heyday and decline. The book incorporates military campaigns, architecture and political machinations, and is illustrated with photographs and computer-generated reconstructions of what Roman buildings would have looked like at the time.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Inspired by a boyhood teacher and surviving monuments of Roman culture, Grabsky, a TV documentary maker, wrote this book to accompany I, Caesar, an A&E TV history series. In this respect, it resembles T.K. Rabb's Renaissance Lives: Portraits of an Age (LJ 1/93), but Rabb, a professional historian, produced the more original, knowledgeable, and exciting work. Still, Grabsky has written for the curious general reader a lively and evocative sketch of Roman imperial history, focused around Julius Caesar, Octavius Augustus, Nero, Hadrian, Constantine, and Justinian and based on translations of the best-known Roman historians. Major political (but not economic or cultural) developments in the 600 years of the Roman empire are discussed, and Grabsky shows a sensitivity to the lives of women and ordinary people. Sweeping generalizations, however, lead him into errors of fact, critical terms like republic and empire are not adequately defined, and a lack of familiarity with the recent literature results in long-outmoded interpretations. The book contains a useful map and many apt, imaginative, and beautiful illustrations, but they lack informative captions. An optional purchase for public libraries.?Bennett D. Hill, Georgetown Univ.,Washington, DC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This survey of imperial history via biographical sketches of the most significant emperors is based on the Arts and Entertainment television series. It is not a particularly scholarly work, despite the author's frequent utilization of primary sources. Grabsky's often unwarranted assertions regarding psychological motivations behind actions taken by a particular emperor would be more appropriate for a television "docudrama." Still, this is a fun read that the inquisitive general reader should find both interesting and enlightening. Although classical scholars may cringe, his speculations on the impetus for some of the more controversial decisions of a Julius Caesar or a Constantine are presented with at least an aura of credibility. It can be hoped that Grabsky can inspire some of his readers to delve deeper into our classical heritage. Jay Freeman

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: BBC Pubns (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563387254
• ISBN-13: 978-0563387251
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,838,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ideal introduction to Roman history., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: I, Caesar: Ruling the Roman Empire (Hardcover)

As someone who has heard of the Roman empire but knows little more than what the movies show, this book proved ideal for me. It is clear, concise and not trying to be clever. Too often academics are more interested in impressing their peers than conveying the necessary information to a lay reader like me. I thought the chapters were each great reads but also as a whole gave me a suberb understanding of the Roman empire as a whole. The photographs are very good too. If I have a criticism it is that perhaps the chapters are a bit short but I guess it's better that than too long. In sum, therefore, the perfect "way-in" to Roman history. The chapters on Caesar, Nero and Justinian are particularly good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read, May 15, 2002

By 

Melkor "dark lord" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: I, Caesar: Ruling the Roman Empire (Hardcover)

I love history, and can't stand reading history books. Too often the books are so cluttered with the author's attempts to challenge previous perceptions of the past along with the justifications of those claims, that it is difficult for the reader to actually gain any incite about the subject which for which they craved education. (I want to read a book, not a dissertation.)

"I, Caesar" is a different history book. It's the kind of history book I wish more authors would write. Most important, Grabsky is able to write. He is able to present the material in an approachable manner that is easily interpreted by the reader. He makes a few far reaching claims, but these are presented very obviously and any reader will easily be able to approach them with a grain of salt.

The subject of the book covers the history of the Roman Empire spanning from the first Caesar to the last. Several chapters are dedicated to focusing on the more accomplished leaders such as Augustus, Hadrian, and Constantine.

This book is wonderful for anyone who wishes to approach the subject of Roman history without a strong background in the area. I feel it is a wonderful introduction, and may be used as a springboard to either dive deeper in to the subject of Roman History or into the Middle Ages that follow this period.