Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy
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Book Reviews of Caesar: Life of a Colossus
Book Review: Caesar - Life of a Colossus
Summary: 5 Stars
Caesar: Life of a Colossus Superb. Adrian Goldsworthy turns history into a page-turning thriller that gives the reader an accurate, in-depth account of Julius Caesar, the great general who destroyed the Roman Republic and opened the era of the emperors who ruled Rome for the next 400-plus years. It inspired me to read a whole slew of histories about the Romans, incluidng Goldsworthy's intriguing "Roman Warfare" and highly readable books about the empire by famed historian Michael Grant. I just started Gibbon's "The Decline of the Roman Empire," an abridged 1300-page, Modern Library version edited by Han-Friedrich Muller. Hats off to Goldsworthy, who got me hooked on the Romans.Book Review: Brilliant!
Summary: 5 Stars
Veni, vidi, vici!
Goldsworthy provides a fast moving in depth read on a subject worthy of such an effort. Cicero would approve this balanced account I do believe.
The Roman Senate in its own thirst for power and the brutality of the end of Caesar as a man could not contain the legacy he left. Defeating a great man in his own city after he had defeated so many abroad is all too ironic. Caesar's efforts to bring honor and glory to Rome as well as himself, while deftly sharing the glory would appear to be a true ideal of citizenship for the people. I believe the conspirators missed the point and Rome was left to decide who was right...one man with power that served the people or the Senate who served themselves in the name of the people?
Book Review: Excellent read on Caesar
Summary: 5 Stars
I disagree with some of the reviews that say Caesar doesn't come to life in this book, I believe he does. You get into his mind, a man who simply dominated life like no other Roman. Admittedly the coverage was skimp on Caesar's time as a dictator, but Goldsworthy does his best in the room to describe the most important and interesting periods of Caesar's life. My favorite part about Goldsworthy is that he tells you what is known from our sources and what is pure speculation. He doesn't speculate himself as best he can which I like, and he doesn't try to make Caesar into Hitler as some modern revisionist historians have tried to do. He simply lays out the facts of what happened and lets the reader decide for himself about Caesar.Book Review: Life of a Colossus
Summary: 5 Stars
A well presented biography of, who may arguably be, the most well-known and studied man in history. It does well in its attempt to cover the main events prior to, during, and following Caesar's life. It carefully unravels his thinking and uncovers why he most likely may the decisions he did.
It does get a tad dull in some parts and the author does delve deep enough into the historical aspects for me (this truly is just a biography of Caesar, not a history of the Later Republic as is usually the case). Absolutely brilliant though.
Book Review: wonderful book!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a non-professional reviewer, I'll just give a few comments. This book gives a wonderful picture of a fascinating man. As is often the case with a good historical biography, the book also provides a revealing insight into the subject's society, the late Roman Republic, and the amazing, alien, and yet very human characters that played a part in forming it. The book is, furthermore, a joy to read - well written, detailed without being overwhelming, and full of interesting stories. Highly recommended.