Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy
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Book Reviews of Caesar: Life of a Colossus
Book Review: A Fine Biography
Summary: 5 Stars
In his introduction Goldsworthy says that, "Unlike those studying more recent history, ancient historians often have to make the best of limited and possibly unreliable sources, as well as balancing apparently contradictory accounts." In my opinion he does this very successfully in a readable book that doesn't try to present academic disputes.
The basic outlines are clear with one paragraph in the introduction opening with the sentence, "Ceasar was a great man", and another opening with the sentence, "Caesar was not a moral man....", the two sides of his character being amply illustrated throughout the 23 chapters. Goldsworthy gives cognisance to the fact that the 1st century B.C. Roman Republic were not moral times and that ancient history needs to be judged in its own context, for example Roman pride in "virtu" (which could be expressed by conquering weak neighbours) or the mass entertainment of gladiatorial combat. Ceasar was a famous philanderer of the aristocratic wives of Rome which caused him some obvious difficulties, and he could bribe his way through politics and ally himself with armed gangs as well as the best of them, finally breaking the Republic by crossing the Rubicon and imposing himself as dictator.
Militarily, he was as consistently successful as he had been with the Roman wives, conquering Gaul and eventually reaching the pinnacle of power that he had always sought through the defeat Pompey, his only credible rival in wealth, political influence and armed might. He combined cunning with aggressiveness, succeeding in subduing Gaul in good measure by his clemency and willingness to grant Roman rights, and it is notable that his well designed legislation continued to proved its worth under the subsequent rule of Augustus.
I found this a very rewarding and recommendable book (much better than Tom Holland's "Rubicon").
Book Review: Brilliant, Entertaining, and Concise
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been on a streak of reading historical biographies and this may be the best one yet. Caesar is such a fascinating character, and Goldsworthy does a wonderful job bringing this to light without making assumptions. He always points out what is merely a rumor and what is fact. Unfortunately in Caesar's case, much is just rumor and cannot be proven which can be frustrating at times, but this is not the author's fault. He is merely writing the most comprehensive historical biography that he can based on the research he's done. And I must say he does a magnificent job! Goldsworthy is a master in writing about military tactics, and he continues to prove this in Caesar: Life of a Colossus. The battles are all accompanied with diagrams of the opposing armies, and he is very objective in outlining the results even when Caesar suffered losses. Goldsworthy's objectivity accompanied with the brevity of his writing style make this a very enjoyable read. This may be the most comprehensive biography out there on Caesar, and for those of you who love to read about military tactics, you are in for a treat.Book Review: Very Impressive
Summary: 5 Stars
Adrian Goldsworthy did a fantastic job in writing this book. It's well written, painstakingly researched, and has little bias whatsoever. This is the second biography I've read on Caesar, and while the first [Julius Caesar by Philip Freeman] was a good introduction to the man, I found this book to be infinitely more informative and intriguing. At times the paragraphs can get a bit lengthy but after about 20 pages I got used to the writing style. The story is jam-packed with details that would escape most historians, but Goldsworthy presents them as a vital tool to help better explain just how complex the Roman world was at the time of Julius Caesar. I could go on and on about the various elements included in the book that helped make it one of the most enjoyable historical works I've read to date, but I don't mean to bore any readers of this review. To sum it all up, I must say that I was blown away by the scholarship I found in this book and highly, highly recommend it.Book Review: A Superior Telling
Summary: 5 Stars
Prior to this Caesar biography we essentially had Shakespeare's version and, in modern times, Meier's as respectively the popular and definitive versions of Caesar's life. This new biography reminds us once and for all that Shakespeare's play is a dramatic butchery. And it makes by comparison Meier's version read like a dry text book bereft of the dramatic juice and blood that were in fact Caesar's life. As a coincidental aside, Goldsworthy lives up to his name as a biographical historian. It requires a master of both genres to weave together the complex political machinations and upheavals, ethnic infighting, cultural norms, economic compulsions, military dispositions, and personal ambitions in Caesar's Rome that helped form who he was as, ultimately, a man. As a fairly knowledgeable fan of Julius Caesar the historical figure I found this book enlightening. As a fan of Caesar the man, I found it completely enjoyable.Book Review: An Interesting Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Andrian Goldsworthy paints a picture of Caesar as a reluctant dictator--a man who was only looking for the respect he deserved. When his opponents in the government forced his hand by trying to take away everything that he had worked hard for, then Caesar was left with no choice--destroy or be destroyed. Unlike other great conquerors, Caesar was very mild, often pardoning those who fought against him and even including them in his government. It seemed almost as if he were trying to offer chances to those who didn't give him any chances. It seems that it is this boost of reputation is what Caesar was really craving.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about Caesar's life and how the politics of his day helped shape who he was as a person and how it influenced his actions.