Word to Caesar

by Geoffrey Trease

Set in Imperial Rome at the time of Emperor Hadrian, a teenaged boy travels across the Empire from his home in Britain to seek an audience with the Emperor. Along the way he meets up with the villains who are trying to stop him, a famous charioteer who helps him, apathetic solicitors who won't help him, and finally the Emperor. At every step of his adventure, he remains loyal, demonstrates courage and prudence, and does not give up even when it seems impossible.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Historical

Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Robert Geoffrey Trease (1909-1998) was a prolific writer, publishing 113 books between 1934 (Bows Against the Barons) and 1997 (Cloak for a Spy). His work has been translated into 20 languages. His grandfather was a historian, and was one of the main influences towards Trease's work.

He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study Tales Out of School (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.

Reviews

[Mary Herceg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved almost everything about this book, and I enjoyed every page. It's quality historical fiction at its best. It contains phenomenal characters, plot, setting, historical detail, adventure, writing style, description, and so much more. I also enjoyed how clever and witty the narrative and dialogue are, and both are immensely well-crafted all around. And I really appreciated how the author realistically portrayed the Roman Empire, including both its glory and corruption, and that this is a story of the fight for justice and truth amid all of the rottenness.

I especially loved the compelling, vivid, and well-developed characters. The heroes and allies are immediately likeable and endearing, and the villains and unlikeable characters are despicable and believable. I also really enjoyed the relationships between the characters, including both sweet friendships and intriguing enemyhoods.

I am so incredibly glad that a dear friend recommended this book and this author to me! I'm indebted to her, because I wouldn't have discovered this author at all or read the book so soon if she hadn't pushed me to. I've been missing out by not experiencing this author's books sooner! This is my first book by Geoffrey Trease, but it will most definitely not be the last. I look forward to reading many more books by this author.

Thanks to the wonderful author Rosemary Sutcliff, I feel at home in Roman Britain and enjoy reading good books in that setting, but I've been able to find next to none by other authors. I'm so excited to have found a good and wholesome book in that era.

I was thinking during the beginning of the book that it would be 4.5 at least but there was almost nothing I didn't like, and it definitely earned a full 5 stars. The book actually gained its five stars in a single moment instead of gradually...because during one scene a quarter of the way into the book, I identified with something the protagonist went through, and it made me cry. An immediate 5 stars! *grins*

A fabulous book in every area! Highly recommended to fans of history and historical fiction, teens and up. 5 stars.

[Paco Josemaria P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom gave it to me as a gift early last month, and I was surprised at how much I ended up liking it.

The story itself was very engaging, even the parts that might be considered "slower" are not boring at all. There was a minimum of cliches, which I was extremely thankful for. The author did a great job with making sure that the events in the book seemed plausible.

A great read overall, my only complaint is that the book is not longer.

[trevor haggard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book that I had to read for highschool! To be honest, I expected it to be boring. But everyday I would look forward to reading it so I could see what happened! I loved every chapter.

[zane deann · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Very enjoyable.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul, the son of a centurion stationed near what would later be Carlisle, sees his father's fort overrun by local tribes and everyone within it massacred. He flees to the nearby port of Ravenglass where his life is saved by Severus, an aristocratic Roman poet who has been exiled to Britain on a trumped up charge of conspiracy.

Severus has commissioned the last boat out of Ravenglass and he rescues the despairing Paul from his pursuers, picking him up and carrying him on board before sailing south away from the conflict. When Paul has recovered from the wound he sustained in his flight and heard Severus's story, he determines to travel to Rome to clear his saviour's name.

Geoffrey Trease was a significant figure in British children's fiction during the middle part of the twentieth century and is often cited as an influence of Rosemary Sutcliff. Published in 1955, this is the kind of fiction that contemporary grammar school boys might have read. The text assumes at least some familiarity with Latin literature but there is an identification with the lower classes that might have put off the privately educated.

To its detriment, there is more than a whiff of male superiority about this story. It's a masculine world and the female characters, with one exception are shallow, vain, and manipulative. But the setting is ancient Rome, of course, which could fairly be described as a male domain, and the one exception, Tonia, the secondary lead, is brave, intelligent and honourable.

Word To Caesar is a well-researched, atmospheric, page-turner. If you can make allowances for the milieu within which it was written, it's a hugely enjoyable read.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ & 8/10 hearts. I have always been fascinated by the Roman Empire—I suppose because they’re so like a primitive version of our civilization. This book was not a disappointment. The writing style was amazing, and I love the dry, sarcastic wit & humour. Paul was a great main character, and Severus... he was hilarious and somehow loveable in spite of his cynicism. They had an amazing relationship. And Hadrian was an amazing character too. Paul’s and Tonia’s friendship was super sweet and humorous, and although I don’t quite agree with all they did, still it’s very clean and noble. The excitement & suspense lasted right up to the very end, but there were some beautiful calm moments. It was amazingly well written, very realistic, and humorous, suspenseful, & sweet all at once. I enjoyed every moment of it & I will certainly be reading more of Trease’s works!

A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “The slanting, reddish sunshine picked out flashes of polished bronze (or was it gold?) amid the softer sheen of tinted marbles and the restful green of foliage, the pale pinks and whites of blossoms.”
A Favourite Humourous Quote: “‘You mean—‘ Words almost failed me. ‘You’ve been BETTING with it?’
“‘Yes. The first race.’
“Really! Girls… the last of our certain money, bar the few coppers I still had myself. ‘May I ask,’ I inquired with heavy sarcasm, ‘with all your export knowledge of the sport, which team you decided to back?’
“’Oh, Manlius, naturally. He’s your friend—and blue is one of my favourite colors—and I LOVE his funny eyebrows—‘
“’All of which,’ I groaned, ‘makes him a certain winner!’
“‘I’m so glad you think so. I always go by what you say.’”  

[Fredrik Malcus]

No grand battles between heroes, no fantastic deeds by some relative of the gods. Just a normal young man that finds himself in trouble, survives by being careful of life and limb, and with a bit of help and stubbornness manages to travel through an adventure in the Roman empire. You go from the upper class villas to the lower class cheap (and dangerous) high rises in Rome. From the border of the empire to its heart. No heroics, just trying to do the good thing in Roman time. Perfect. Now I want to find the sequel...

[Annabelle Batie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't have time to write a long review for this book, but I will say this: it was very interesting, educational, and historically accurate. I loved reading it, the only thing that deterred me from finishing it faster was the lack of suspense. There was some excitement at certain parts, but at times I found myself wishing I could skip over because it was just so boring.

But other than that, this is a great book, and I would definitely recommend it!

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

They gave us this to read in school back in the 1970s. Years afterwards I still remembered it and reread it - twice. :)

[Who · Rating 3 out of 5]

cozy historical fiction for young adults. Never excels, never fails either

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book, and made me think about what Britain, France, and Italy might have been like during the time of the Roman Empire. This book is written for the teenage market I believe. A 16-year old fellow escapes slaughter at a hill fort in Northern England and has his life saved by a Roman citizen in exile who becomes his benefactor. His benefactor sends him on a journey to Rome, to try and restore his reputation so that he can return to Rome. Of course, the "bad guys" - in effect the mafia of that age - are out to get him, do track him down, and the boy must live by his wits along with some help along the way. But who can he trust? So much betrayal, so many bribes in those times.
If this book was 4 times as long it could be written by Robert Ludlum, LOL. But it's short, an easy read, and very enjoyable.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical adventure set in ancient Rome. I didn't enjoy it as much as some others, mainly ones by Rosemary Sutcliff, but it was still good with great scenes and clean reading for growing kids. These kinds of books are an absolute necessity against the poisonous tripe some want to foist on readers these days.

[George Da Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certo dia na biblioteca pública de minha cidade, e isso já faz alguns anos, eu encontrava-me contrariado tentando achar um livro novo para ler, o acervo da biblioteca não era tão rico em variedades, então encontrar algo novo era bastante árduo, por fim deparei-me com Mensagem a César de Geoffrey Trease, curioso peguei-o da estante e folheie as primeiras páginas, a história passasse no império romano, e conta a história dum garoto que sonhava se tornar um soldado, porém ferido potencialmente no braço, anulou o desejo do menino, porém a vida de aventuras estava apenas começando, gostei do que li, e levei o livro para casa e não me arrependi, é um livro maravilhoso, com uma narrativa ágil e direta, com personagens cativantes e sem exageros, as peripécias em que o protagonista enfrenta são emocionantes e muitas vezes em ótimo suspense, e sem apelação, tudo de modo plausível e verossímil; um conto esplêndido, que merece ser lido por todos, e um ótimo compromisso para os jovens amantes de literatura.

[Monika Yip · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Word to Caesar” follows around a little roman boy who travels across Rome to tell the current Emperor, Emperor Hadrian, a message. Along the way he meets villains who try to stop him for delivering this important message. Along the way he meets people whom he comes to know as friends and help him out on his mission; although they never join him on the journey.The little roman boy who grew up in the barracks sets off on an adventure alone running across Rome with little to nothing but himself.

The book “Word to Caesar” was an enjoyable historical adventure. There are many aspects in this book that are accurate to history which makes the book seem as if it was a true story. It was well written and every time I picked up the book to read it, it felt as if I was transported back in time. The book isn’t very long and there was never a dull moment within the story. I think a good book is a book that you can go back to and enjoy all over again and I could definitely see myself reading this book all over again. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good action book that shows a glimpse of what a life of a roman was like. Although this book does not follow the life of normal roman boy throughout Rome, there are scenes where he interacts with civilians and does common activities that would have been done in that time period.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of Heart of Dakota’s World Geography curriculum. What a great book! The adventure never stops, the characters are believable, and the setting is somewhat unique (I haven’t read many books that start in England and end in Rome during the time of the Roman Empire).

[Sydnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for school, my teacher later gave us assignments to do...without the book! If anyone knows 20 metaphors or similes, 20 humorous sentences and 20 appositives