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History of Julius Caesar
Biography of the Roman military and political leader from the 19th Century American writer of history and biographies for children.
156 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1849
182 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Abbott
1,367 books89 followersAbbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1820; studied at Andover Theological Seminary in 1821, 1822, and 1824; was tutor in 1824-1825, and from 1825 to 1829 was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Amherst College; was licensed to preach by the Hampshire Association in 1826; founded the Mount Vernon School for Young Ladies in Boston in 1829, and was principal of it in 1829-1833; was pastor of Eliot Congregational Church (which he founded), at Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1834-1835; and was, with his brothers, a founder, and in 1843-1851 a principal of Abbott's Institute, and in 1845-1848 of the Mount Vernon School for Boys, in New York City.
He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He died in Farmington, Maine, where he had spent part of his time after 1839, and where his brother, Samuel Phillips Abbott, founded the Abbott School.
His Rollo Books, such as Rollo at Work, Rollo at Play, Rollo in Europe, etc., are the best known of his writings, having as their chief characters a representative boy and his associates. In them Abbott did for one or two generations of young American readers a service not unlike that performed earlier, in England and America, by the authors of Evenings at Home, The History of Sandford and Merton, and the The Parent's Assistant.
Fewacres in 1906, Abbott's residence at Farmington, Maine
His brothers, John S.C. Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors. His sons, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.
He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He died in Farmington, Maine, where he had spent part of his time after 1839, and where his brother, Samuel Phillips Abbott, founded the Abbott School.
His Rollo Books, such as Rollo at Work, Rollo at Play, Rollo in Europe, etc., are the best known of his writings, having as their chief characters a representative boy and his associates. In them Abbott did for one or two generations of young American readers a service not unlike that performed earlier, in England and America, by the authors of Evenings at Home, The History of Sandford and Merton, and the The Parent's Assistant.
Fewacres in 1906, Abbott's residence at Farmington, Maine
His brothers, John S.C. Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors. His sons, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 9, 2011
History of Julius Caesar by Jacob Abbott
Though written roughly 100 years ago, it was still an excellent overview of Caesar's life and times. I was already somewhat familiar with his history, but this book went into more detail in areas I wasn't as familiar by highlighting major events in his life as he become the most powerful man in Rome with the entire Roman Empire at his beck and call as "dictator in perpetuity".
I learned a number of things, but one that stuck out the most was at the end, Caesar was killed on the day he was going to be crowned King of the Roman empire excluding Rome in order to fulfill a prophecy about a king defeating the Parthians. His conspirators did that on purpose, as a warning to all would be Roman rulers. Too bad it didn't stick, instead it kicked off civil wars and Caesar's grandson Octavius (later Augustus) took over the same role and expanding it, calling himself 'Princeps Senatus' and concentrating more power unto himself, starting the rule of the Emperors, ending the Republic that had existed for 500 years.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone wanting a solid overview of Caesar's life and times.
Though written roughly 100 years ago, it was still an excellent overview of Caesar's life and times. I was already somewhat familiar with his history, but this book went into more detail in areas I wasn't as familiar by highlighting major events in his life as he become the most powerful man in Rome with the entire Roman Empire at his beck and call as "dictator in perpetuity".
I learned a number of things, but one that stuck out the most was at the end, Caesar was killed on the day he was going to be crowned King of the Roman empire excluding Rome in order to fulfill a prophecy about a king defeating the Parthians. His conspirators did that on purpose, as a warning to all would be Roman rulers. Too bad it didn't stick, instead it kicked off civil wars and Caesar's grandson Octavius (later Augustus) took over the same role and expanding it, calling himself 'Princeps Senatus' and concentrating more power unto himself, starting the rule of the Emperors, ending the Republic that had existed for 500 years.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone wanting a solid overview of Caesar's life and times.
May 9, 2020
Ni loše, ni odlično... srednje... Naravno, treba uzeti u obzir da je original tekst napisan sredinom 19. veka. Malo nerviraju aluzije na autorovo tadašnje društvo, da nema toga možda bih dao zvezdicu više.
Odlična biografija Cezara za školarce i one kojima istorija nije struka a žele da saznaju o životu jednog od najvećih državnika i vojskovođa Rimskog carstva :)
Odlična biografija Cezara za školarce i one kojima istorija nije struka a žele da saznaju o životu jednog od najvećih državnika i vojskovođa Rimskog carstva :)
January 27, 2021
Caesar´s story is a story of a very ambitious man, politician, orator and general. Stern and generous, a brave leader and a very talented person. He stood his ground when Silla (or Sulla), the most powerful man in Rome of the time wanted him to leave his wife connected with Marius, Silla´s biggest rival. Being captured by pirates he was treated as a superior because of his demeanour. He overcame his rival Pompey and became the most powerful man in all Roman Empire. And with all his power he was generous with the soldiers and generals who fought against him and pardoned their lives. Even gave some offices of honor in Rome sometime afterwards. He helped Cleopatra to seize the throne in Egypt. He changed the calendar to basically what we know nowadays (except a small change in 1582). The only thing he didn't learn was to choose his friends cautiously.
More in my blog Wordsqueeze: https://bit.ly/2M9stWg
More in my blog Wordsqueeze: https://bit.ly/2M9stWg
May 24, 2013
Jacob Abbott wrote a series of histories of great historical figures around the turn of the 20th century. This one, about Julius Caesar is one of the best. Abbott provides great details in his books which are short and to the point. Something I liked about this book is that it contains details I didnt know well. Abbott covers Caesar 's early life and his role in the Sylla and Marius conflict well. He also gives ample time to Caesar's conflict with Pompey. The short shift is given to Caesar after the conflict with Pompey was over.
May 30, 2015
It is a short book about a great man. I enjoyed the reading and lessons learned from it. I do recommend it!
August 6, 2021
I listened to this book in one day, in one sitting on a long drive. It contains a lot of outdated information, such as stating that Caesar’s stop in Alexandria resulted in the burning of the Library of Alexandria to the ground… which is not true. It glosses over the majority of Caesar’s finest hour in Gaul, and doesn’t even mention the name Labienus.
Philip Freeman offers a much more recent account of Caesar’s story, as well as a more accurate and thorough account.
Philip Freeman offers a much more recent account of Caesar’s story, as well as a more accurate and thorough account.
May 23, 2020
Latest of many, many books I've read about the life and successes of Julius Caesar.
Enjoyable and informative, though in many parts not historically accurate or perhaps simply reflecting the view at the time of writing.
Still, it covers most of Caesar's life, so I would recommend it to anyone looking to know more about the life and glory of one of Rome's mightiest heroes.
Enjoyable and informative, though in many parts not historically accurate or perhaps simply reflecting the view at the time of writing.
Still, it covers most of Caesar's life, so I would recommend it to anyone looking to know more about the life and glory of one of Rome's mightiest heroes.
November 12, 2023
The book in itself is a great introduction to the life of Julius Caesar. However, the personal, and Christian, opinions that the author sometimes gives regarding some events diverts our attention from the history itself.
Overall it is an entertaining book. I got to listen to the audiobook that is available at the librivox website.
Overall it is an entertaining book. I got to listen to the audiobook that is available at the librivox website.
April 1, 2011
great easy to read biography of fascinating man
March 19, 2017
The author dares to judge Cato.
I am displeased.
I am displeased.
March 22, 2025
History of Julias Caesar is an entertaining and approachable book. I enjoyed reading it and sped through it quickly. However, it’s written more like an adventure novel than a work of scholarship, and I highly doubt the accuracy of the details; there are no footnotes, endnotes, or references/attributions of any kind, and there are some details given that seem to me would be impossible for the author to know, such as the internal thoughts of individuals shortly before their deaths. I am only confident in the “broad strokes” of the events Abbott provided.
Furthermore, the book is heavily tinged with Victorian morality and a puritan, Christian sentimentality. For example, at one point, the author spends some time talking about how “sinful” Cleopatra was, and, at another, how Cato’s suicide was shameful, irrational, and a “sin” – though the author decided he deserved some reprieve on the moral side due to the fact that Cato lived before the spread of Christianity. To me, however, the suicide seemed a courageous action that revealed Cato’s strength of belief and integrity. I’m very much looking forward to reading more reliable biographies, to corroborate what I learned here, and also because I’m curious how the historical record has interpreted Cato’s suicide. These two examples are not the only times that Abbott’s very subjective beliefs creeped into the narrative in a very, shall I venture to say, unethical manner.
What was interesting about this book was the mixture of praise and condemnation Abbott directed towards Caesar; at times he seemed to be shrinking back in disapproval of Caesar’s violence and brutality, and at other times he sang hymns of praise about Caesar’s honor and generosity. I think this has to do with the complexity of Caesar the man, but I note this because it made this feel like a more multifaceted portrayal.
Unfortunately, Abbott definitely was rather unfair or biased in his evaluation of the women, in that he castigated Cleopatra for the same things he praised Caesar for, but I suppose that’s nothing new in a book from the 19th century. (I swear, Gibbon was not this bad! He had a lot of nice things to say about Zenobia, I remember.) Overall, I would recommend this for someone looking for an entertaining, narrative-style biography of Caesar, for those new to the subject, but I doubt anyone well-read on Caesar or the Roman empire would enjoy, let alone appreciate, this.
…But if you do read it, tell me how much of it Abbott is making up or exaggerating!! I’m dying to know.
Also, I am quite surprised by how many ratings and reviews this book has here on Goodreads? I expected it to be one of those books that has zero reviews and two ratings, like a few old books about Oscar Wilde I’ve read, but I must have stumbled upon a more popular piece of scholarship than I realized.
One other thing: Goodreads doesn’t seem to have the exact edition I read; the publisher of my copy was A. L. Burt Company Publishers, and the copy has 228 pages.
Edit: I just saw this: "Biography of the Roman military and political leader from the 19th Century American writer of history and biographies for children [italics mine]." In retrospect, that explains how un-scholarly this was. It seemed a little too easy to read...
Furthermore, the book is heavily tinged with Victorian morality and a puritan, Christian sentimentality. For example, at one point, the author spends some time talking about how “sinful” Cleopatra was, and, at another, how Cato’s suicide was shameful, irrational, and a “sin” – though the author decided he deserved some reprieve on the moral side due to the fact that Cato lived before the spread of Christianity. To me, however, the suicide seemed a courageous action that revealed Cato’s strength of belief and integrity. I’m very much looking forward to reading more reliable biographies, to corroborate what I learned here, and also because I’m curious how the historical record has interpreted Cato’s suicide. These two examples are not the only times that Abbott’s very subjective beliefs creeped into the narrative in a very, shall I venture to say, unethical manner.
What was interesting about this book was the mixture of praise and condemnation Abbott directed towards Caesar; at times he seemed to be shrinking back in disapproval of Caesar’s violence and brutality, and at other times he sang hymns of praise about Caesar’s honor and generosity. I think this has to do with the complexity of Caesar the man, but I note this because it made this feel like a more multifaceted portrayal.
Unfortunately, Abbott definitely was rather unfair or biased in his evaluation of the women, in that he castigated Cleopatra for the same things he praised Caesar for, but I suppose that’s nothing new in a book from the 19th century. (I swear, Gibbon was not this bad! He had a lot of nice things to say about Zenobia, I remember.) Overall, I would recommend this for someone looking for an entertaining, narrative-style biography of Caesar, for those new to the subject, but I doubt anyone well-read on Caesar or the Roman empire would enjoy, let alone appreciate, this.
…But if you do read it, tell me how much of it Abbott is making up or exaggerating!! I’m dying to know.
Also, I am quite surprised by how many ratings and reviews this book has here on Goodreads? I expected it to be one of those books that has zero reviews and two ratings, like a few old books about Oscar Wilde I’ve read, but I must have stumbled upon a more popular piece of scholarship than I realized.
One other thing: Goodreads doesn’t seem to have the exact edition I read; the publisher of my copy was A. L. Burt Company Publishers, and the copy has 228 pages.
Edit: I just saw this: "Biography of the Roman military and political leader from the 19th Century American writer of history and biographies for children [italics mine]." In retrospect, that explains how un-scholarly this was. It seemed a little too easy to read...
January 2, 2022
Yönetilmesi gerektiğini bilen bir halk, eğer bir yönetimin iradesine teslim olmaları gerekiyorsa genellikle itaatlerini ulu ve kabul edilen üstleri olarak görebilecekleri tek bir esas güce sunmayı tercih ederler.
Nefret ettiği birisini öldürmenin ve hatta tutkunun ani dürtüsü altında bile doğrudan darbeyi vurmanın sakin ve kasti kararını vermek
için insanda hatırı sayılır derecede fiziksel cesarete ve metanete gerek duyulur. Ama bunlardan herhangi birine tamamen sahip olan insanlar sık sık, kurbanlarının canlı etine hançeri vurma anı geldiğinde, o karşısında rahat umursamaz bir şekilde silahsız ve savunmasız otururken ve genellikle insanın koluna bu gibi işler için güç vermekte gerekli olan nefret ve sinir duygularını yükselten bir şey yapmazken kararlarının onları yanılttığını görürler. Buna göre tam savunmasızlık bazen çelik zırhtan bile daha iyi bir korumadır.
Pompey'in kovalanışı ve ölümü oldukça trajikti. Lakin Sezar'ın düşmanlarına olan merhameti sonrası haince öldürülüşü Pompeyin ölümü yüzünden meydana gelen bir takdiri ilahi demek aşılığa kaçar. Ki saldırıyı yapanlar Sezar sayesinde hayatta kalmış ve makam ve mevki kazanmış akrabalık ilişkisi kurmuş insanlar.
Nefret ettiği birisini öldürmenin ve hatta tutkunun ani dürtüsü altında bile doğrudan darbeyi vurmanın sakin ve kasti kararını vermek
için insanda hatırı sayılır derecede fiziksel cesarete ve metanete gerek duyulur. Ama bunlardan herhangi birine tamamen sahip olan insanlar sık sık, kurbanlarının canlı etine hançeri vurma anı geldiğinde, o karşısında rahat umursamaz bir şekilde silahsız ve savunmasız otururken ve genellikle insanın koluna bu gibi işler için güç vermekte gerekli olan nefret ve sinir duygularını yükselten bir şey yapmazken kararlarının onları yanılttığını görürler. Buna göre tam savunmasızlık bazen çelik zırhtan bile daha iyi bir korumadır.
Pompey'in kovalanışı ve ölümü oldukça trajikti. Lakin Sezar'ın düşmanlarına olan merhameti sonrası haince öldürülüşü Pompeyin ölümü yüzünden meydana gelen bir takdiri ilahi demek aşılığa kaçar. Ki saldırıyı yapanlar Sezar sayesinde hayatta kalmış ve makam ve mevki kazanmış akrabalık ilişkisi kurmuş insanlar.
November 30, 2023
Julije Cezar kao i svi ostali ljudi koji su obeležili našu prošlost su imali jednu zajedničku osobinu: imali su poseban tip ambicije, svi su znali šta žele u životu i na tome su radili strpljivo godinama. Njegova uzrečica je bila: „Radije bi bio prvi čovek u selu, nego drugi u Rimu.“
Bio je sposoban vojskovođa, plemenit prema zarobljenim vojnicima. Promene koje je uveo u vreme svoje vladavine, važe i dan danas.
U njegovo vreme, (100 pne – 42 pne) sistem merenja vremena je bio u suprotnosti sa sunčevim ciklusom, meseci su se neprestano šetali, tako da su zimski meseci padali u leto. Cezar je uveo novi sistem meseci koji je određivao po 365 dana za tri uzastopne godine i 366 za četvrtu godinu. Taj sistem se koristio 16 vekova kada je ustanovljeno da su se meseci pomerili za 11 dana. Uvedene su nove izmene i sada treba da prođe 3 hiljada godina da bi se javila greška za 1 dan. Mesec JULI je nazvan po njemu, u tom mesecu je rođen. Nekada je MART bio prvi mesec, ali je danas ostalo samo to da se horoskopski znači računaju od marta.
Bio je sposoban vojskovođa, plemenit prema zarobljenim vojnicima. Promene koje je uveo u vreme svoje vladavine, važe i dan danas.
U njegovo vreme, (100 pne – 42 pne) sistem merenja vremena je bio u suprotnosti sa sunčevim ciklusom, meseci su se neprestano šetali, tako da su zimski meseci padali u leto. Cezar je uveo novi sistem meseci koji je određivao po 365 dana za tri uzastopne godine i 366 za četvrtu godinu. Taj sistem se koristio 16 vekova kada je ustanovljeno da su se meseci pomerili za 11 dana. Uvedene su nove izmene i sada treba da prođe 3 hiljada godina da bi se javila greška za 1 dan. Mesec JULI je nazvan po njemu, u tom mesecu je rođen. Nekada je MART bio prvi mesec, ali je danas ostalo samo to da se horoskopski znači računaju od marta.
November 5, 2022
Such an awful books I made a goodreads account to critique it .
Preface: I am a third year classicist at university and turned a reading of this on at night thinking it'd it'd be a comfortable companion to fall asleep to. Absolutely not! Horrible misrepresentations of many classical figures without so mucu of a source as hearing in myth and legend
I really made this account just to say how AWFUL this book is. PLEASE do not read of you want an accurate image of Caesar, even his own works are less biased...
Preface: I am a third year classicist at university and turned a reading of this on at night thinking it'd it'd be a comfortable companion to fall asleep to. Absolutely not! Horrible misrepresentations of many classical figures without so mucu of a source as hearing in myth and legend
I really made this account just to say how AWFUL this book is. PLEASE do not read of you want an accurate image of Caesar, even his own works are less biased...
July 12, 2019
Listened to The Life of Julius Caesar in audio version. Just four hours to listen to it and well worth it for getting up to speed fast on Caesar. Amazing man, amazing life and legacy. BTW this was a free download from the Audiobooks app. After listening to this book, which I found to be written in clear uncomplicated language, I found it was written in 1849 for children. Hm.... Published by Libra Vox.
June 23, 2023
History is written by the victors, and this is very much the case here. Julius is portrayed as the ever benevolent, loved, and destined leader of Rome. Although I'm sure he shared some of these traits, it's unlikely, recognizing his actions that he wasn't equally as deceitful and machiavellian. Regardless of the author's bias, what a bloody epic!! The commitment and collapse of the triumpherate peaked my interest like hell.
August 28, 2017
Wonderful short read about Julius Caesar his genius and his folly. The book almost makes you sympathize with the assassinators as who would want to be ruled by a tyrant dictator king. Then again, it reminds us that from the point of view of the individual citizens not in power, one leader is and was as good as another and maybe a single ruler may have been even better.
September 26, 2022
An excellent biography not just of Julius Caesar but of the times he was born into, raised during, and which ultimately lead to his ascension and demise. I’ve read more than a few books regarding this time period and this is the most excellent and the most concise. Anyone curious of the rise and fall of the man should not miss out on this one.
April 3, 2018
For some reason the story of Julius Caesar still has the capacity to stir the soul. His benevolence and magnanimity and his exceptionally false betrayal summon the most primary feelings of disgust towards the perpetrators and admiration of the great leader. "Et tu Brute", the archetypal tragedy.
May 3, 2018
I expected more from the book, but found it exhausting to read. It literally all about war, battle and fight. Many thing has been skipped. It contains some misinformation about Caesar's offsprings and some of the fact seem like writer himself was confused.
October 25, 2022
julius ceaser loved by his people focuse don education was nice to his enemies people wanted him to be king so people in senatesnd brutus killed him i guess be nice to ur enemies and when they try to assisnate u theyll think twice because u were nice
December 6, 2023
Totally forgot to update that I read this. A short audiobook only a few hours long and a very broad overview of Caesar's life. I got the feeling that the author thought Caesar was a better man than most people think, but it was a fun and interesting read and I learned a lot
May 7, 2019
It would have been more enjoyable if it wasn't so loaded with the authors own prejudices. That being said, it was a concise history of the man.
March 29, 2021
Hard to read
The story is great. It is just hard to read. I fell asleep but at the end I couldn't quit reading.
The story is great. It is just hard to read. I fell asleep but at the end I couldn't quit reading.
June 3, 2021
Really good, short synopsis of Caesar's life. Interesting and brief with enough detail to give a good picture of his life and death.
September 2, 2022
It is an Ok Book but the writing style kind of sucks. I think the author should’ve went further in depth with Caesar’s background and point of view. But he kept jumping from story to story
May 1, 2023
Excellent book. History we should all know. So many things permeate to today and so much seems relevant to current events.
June 30, 2023
Concise and intelligible, amazing book.
June 13, 2025
Great overview of Cearsar, pretty brief and easy to understand. I definitely recommend
July 24, 2025
Did someone named Cato personally insult Jacob Abbott, because why was he writing about Cato's suicide with such hate lmaoo
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews