Caesar: Life of a Colossus Kindle Edition

Book Review: "Caesar: Life of a Colossus" by Adrian GoldsworthyAdrian Goldsworthy’s Caesar: Life of a Colossus is an extraordinary biography that meticulously traces the life and career of one of history’s most iconic figures, Julius Caesar. This comprehensive work deserves a five-star rating for its ability to provide a detailed and coherent understanding of Caesar's movements and actions, year by year, against the backdrop of his illustrious career.Goldsworthy’s narrative begins with Caesar’s birth in Rome in 100 BC and takes us through his early life, including his flight from Rome during Sulla’s proscriptions and his service in Asia Minor. As Caesar climbed the political ladder, Goldsworthy meticulously documented his roles as quaestor in Spain, aedile, Pontifex Maximus, praetor, and governor of Further Spain. Each step is backed by ancient sources and modern scholarship, providing a well-rounded view of Caesar’s formative years.The biography excels in its detailed recounting of the Gallic Wars (58-50 BC), where Caesar’s military genius and political acumen are vividly brought to life. Goldsworthy’s use of ancient historians like Suetonius, Plutarch, Appian, and Dio Cassius is masterful, as he cross-references their accounts to paint a comprehensive picture of Caesar’s campaigns. The descriptions of his invasions of Britain, the suppression of the Gallic revolt, and the continued campaigns to secure Gaul are rich in detail, providing a clear understanding of the complexity and scale of these military endeavors.Goldsworthy’s portrayal of the Civil War (49-45 BC) and Caesar’s subsequent dictatorship is equally compelling. Every event is meticulously documented, from the dramatic crossing of the Rubicon to the decisive battles at Pharsalus, Thapsus, and Munda. Goldsworthy’s narrative ensures readers can follow Caesar’s movements and strategies with clarity, supported by evidence from inscriptions, coinage, and archaeological findings.The book does not shy away from discussing the biases and limitations of ancient sources, highlighting the political and philosophical influences that shaped their accounts. Goldsworthy’s critical examination of these sources and modern archaeological interpretations provide a balanced and nuanced view of Caesar’s life.What makes Caesar: Life of a Colossus exceptional is its ability to synthesize historical and archaeological evidence into a coherent and engaging narrative. Goldsworthy’s scholarship allows us to understand Julius Caesar as a historical figure and a dynamic and multifaceted leader whose actions and decisions shaped the course of history. This comprehensive understanding of Caesar’s life and career is why I give this biography a five-star rating.For anyone interested in Julius Caesar's life, the politics of the late Roman Republic, or military history. Goldsworthy’s biography is an indispensable resource. It is a work that both enlightens and captivates, providing readers with a profound understanding of one of history’s greatest colossi.

Enjoyed the book immensely. Well written and stuck with the known facts of his life. I would have enjoyed knowing more about his relationship with Cleopatra, but I suppose facts are limited in this regard.

SPQR symbolized the Roman Republic. S representing the Senate (Oligarchs) before the P (people) of Rome. Ergo the demise of the Republic.In the introduction the author claims the Senates failure to enact much needed reform came down to jealousy that any man could take credit for the reform. Nope, it was all due to greed and concern with their power. Jealousy never stood in the way of the Senate enacting legislation to benefit them which most of it did.Second, the author claimed Caesar ended free elections. Not sure what his definition of free is but elections were a joke long before Caesar came around.

Author Goldsworthy provides a thorough understanding of Julius Ceaser, the times he lived in, and the destruction of the Romam Republic. Lots of details, so not a light read, but rich with a tapestry of the times. I picked this up because I was curious about what kind of man Ceasar was. The author has a deep understanding of the man and the times in which he lived.

I enjoy Mr Goldsworthy’s books because he is very open about what we know for sure and what we cannot really know for certain about pivotal events in history. My favorite part of this book is the family and career of the young Julius since this is often left out of movies or other books.

Goldsworthy’s expertise shines through once more, this time illuminating Caius Julius Caesar, one of the grandest figures to have ever lived. But the biography, thankfully, does much to uncover Caesar’s legendary life without succumbing to the pitfalls of Cesarean myth; while we are often conditioned to view Caesar as a revolutionary, an idyllist with kingly aspirations since his youth, this work instead outlines the long and complex road to his playing a major part in the downfall of the Republic. Caesar can remain one of the colossi of history while we remember that he was as much a product of his times as they were of he, and no one stage in his life inevitably led to the next. Contemporary to him are many other Roman icons who we’d do well to view in contrast of him: Sulla as a Caesar only lacking his ambition; Cato as a very different approach to gaining auctoritas, Crassus as a shrewd politician with less fortune in war; Pompey as a military man lacking some of his political wit; etc. etc. When one reads of Caesar, they read of some of the most impressive men to have lived in Caesar’s time or any other. As an aside, it is usually my habit to take notes as I progress through a work of historical nonfiction; in this case it proved unneeded (though I stubbornly persisted, believing I’d gone too far to turn back) as this book is dense but clearly written and accessible in in its delivery of fact.

Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in much more detailed picture, then you will ever see on tv. Makes so much sense, makes you really understand the situation and mentality in a way.Great work. Amount of information is staggering.Thank you.

Well written, well researched, with nuanced arguments to fit the modern point-of-view. Authoritative, with no axe to grind. Free of excessive speculation that many historians use to fill in the gaps. In all, an excellent profile of this complex character.

Excellent book, clear , concise and authoritative. An extremely enjoyable and engaging read. Thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking for the unvarnished facts , devoid of romance and drama.

Gostei

Full of details. Easy to read. A pageturner.