The Age of Caesar: Five Roman Lives

by Plutarch (Editor), James Romm (Editor), Mary Beard (Foreword)

“Plutarch regularly shows that great leaders transcend their own purely material interests and petty, personal vanities. Noble ideals actually do matter, in government as in life.” —Michael Dirda, Washington Post

Pompey, Caesar, Cicero, Brutus, the names still resonate across thousands of years. Major figures in the civil wars that brutally ended the Roman republic, their lives pose a question that haunts us how to safeguard a republic from the flaws of its leaders.

This reader’s edition of Plutarch delivers a fresh translation of notable clarity, explanatory notes, and ample historical context in the Preface and Introduction.

Genres: History, Classics, Biography, Nonfiction, Historical, Ancient History, Audiobook

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 100

About the author

Plutarch (later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus; AD 46–AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers.

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains 5 of the lives of famous Romans from Plutarch’s collection of Parallel Lives - Pompey, Julius Caesar, Cicero, Brutus and Mark Antony. The essays are chatty and anecdotal and have lots of interesting details about these lives, including the extremely prolonged death scenes/plans of Antony and Cleopatra. These men lived at the same time, so sometimes events were repeated in 2 of the biographies, but from slightly different perspectives. I was particularly intrigued by these biographies since they were written by someone who lived not so long after his subjects.

[Melora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This translation of Plutarch selects from the Parallel Lives the stories of Pompey, Caesar, Brutus, Cicero, and Antony. Though not “parallel” according to Plutarch's arrangement, the lives of these five Romans, who all lived in the same critical period in Roman history and who interacted as friends, enemies, and in-laws, provide a “360 degree panorama” view of the acts and intriguing of these key players in events in the mid-1st century BC. James Romm and Mary Beard provide interesting and helpful introductions, and Pamela Mensch's translation flows along with vigor and clarity. I enjoyed this as an audio recording, read by Michael Page. Four and a quarter stars – the last chapter, on Antony, made me a little cranky – he was such an idiot – but it seems unfair to punish Plutarch for my loathing for Antony, so he gets that last star on credit.

[Mairita (Marii grāmatplaukts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plutarhs dzīvoja apmēram 100 gadus pēc Cēzara laikmeta, bet viņa Pompeja, Cēzara, Cicero, Bruta un Antonija biogrāfijas ir tik dzīvas it kā viņš šos vīrus pats būtu saticis. Daudz kaislību, alkatība, varaskāre, daudz karu un ļoti daudz visādu interesantu sīkumu. Reizē ar Antonija dzīvi tiek stāstīts par vēl vienu vadoni - Oktavianu/Augustu, kuru Plutarhs sauc par Cēzaru (kas arī bija viens no viņa vārdiem, attāls pirmā Cēzara radinieks), kurš vēlāk kļuva par Romas imperatoru. Kopumā traki interesanti un daudz jādomā par Romas impēriju.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Romans—they're just like us! Okay, not really. But you don't have to dig deep to find the family resemblance.

This collection of five of Plutarch's Lives includes Pompey, Caesar, Brutus, Antony, and Cicero, with many lines threading between each of these. Plutarch is entertaining and funny, insightful and critical, and through the seemingly endless descriptions of wars and battles, we gain access to a period of history when the people wanted security and prosperity, the noblemen wanted to maintain systems that ensured them access to incredible wealth, and the leaders were willing to strike deals and scheme betrayals if only to gain one more day of supreme power. There are occasional moments of nobility and honor, but more often these Lives reveal the ways that arrogance and paranoia work in concert to raise up strong men and also to ensure their downfall. An enlightening read.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this unexpectedly easy to read. It's fast moving and delightfully alive with interesting details of life in the Roman world.

I studied Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at school and remember them talking of Pompey but not till now did I learn anything about him. My favourite in this selection is Cicero because I suppose it's easier to relate to someone who wasn't a military conquerer who led armies. I learned that Cicero's name meant chickpea and his nose even had a cleft like one. Rather than drop it for a more dignified name, he owned it and said his life's achievements would instead bring dignity to it.

Some crossover events are described multiple times from different perspectives, and the fuller explanation might come later which makes it rewarding to go back and reread the earlier one.

If you remember your Shakespeare, it's fascinating to think you are now reading the same source that he read. Mark Antony comes across differently to how I remember him in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, but I recognise many details of events that I can recall from the play. The timing of the ending events are different, Cleopatra's suicide was quite a bit later than Anthony's, which makes this really eye-opening. I like that Plutarch himself says he is not writing history but 'lives' and he points out if a reported detail or event is not certain.

This is a superb selection. I want to read more Plutarch!

[Foo Lixin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd wanted to read Plutarch's Parallel Lives for a while, but the classic Loeb collection spans multiple books and is furthermore unavailable in libraries and bookstores (here at least). So imagine my pleasant surprise when I stumbled upon this translation during a library grind.

This edition contains only 5 Roman Lives, without their Greek parallels and the comparison theses. That kinda takes the "parallel" thing out of it, but hey, that's (probably) why it's published under a different name. It isn't really fair to judge a book for what it clearly states on its blurb.

Besides, the period and historical figures the book is hence centred on by structure - the late Roman Republic and Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, Cicero the orator/statesman/savior of the Republic from the Catiline Conspiracy etc, Brutus the Liberator/Conspirator, Antony the debauched paramour of Cleopatra... - was what I was most interested in, so I'm not really complaining.

The footnotes giving context and explaining certain archaic terms were extremely helpful and saves readers from constantly flipping to the back of the book for notes. The translation itself is more modern compared to the public domain(?) Dryden translation, which is the only other I've read snatches of online and hence can comment on. However the appendix about the political structure of the Roman Republic, especially regarding the cursus honorum, was rather confusing (for struggling friends Wikipedia actually has a flowchart for better visualisation).

[Hundeschlitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is epic writing about epic people, in the best of the sense of the word. The nonchalance of the violence, the focus on fate and character, on dominating your enemies, foreign and domestic; it's like being transported to A Game of Thrones, except this world was real. It is a contemporary, breezy translation, light on the poetry. But I mostly appreciated its readability. It was my first real taste of Plutarch's "Lives," which proved a welcome tonic for the watery-eyed trivialities of the modern age. It probably won't be my last.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It would then be my duty," Brutus replied, "not to remain silent, but to defend my country and die for her liberty."

[Geoff Walling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much information.

[Benjamin Phillips]

Plutarch’s Lives should be read in pairs, but this collection is a very helpful taste of the “Age of Caesar” and orients the reader/listener to the time period. It is quite unfortunate that the cover is of Augustus.

[Annika Nordquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely selection; very readable translation, with a really helpful and interesting introduction. I’ve never been sure what book to suggest when people ask me where to start for a good introduction to Roman history, but this would surely be high on the list. My favorite was the life of Antony!

[Oakley C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply what political history and biography should always aspire to be. Plutarch is blessedly unburdened by the contemporary (and Freudian) “biographer’s fallacy” wherein all the events, attitudes, and “traumas” of childhood are THE REASON such and such is so and so. Apart from some simplistic remarks regarding Cassius’ belligerent conduct in his early youth (and Cassius is present here not in his own biography but that of Brutus), Plutarch takes the rather sensible view that individual adults (who possess much power) are not driven by “early life experience” but a combination of circumstance, personality, legacy, and destiny. What is most shocking is that while we consider a “good biography” of a political leader to span at least 700 pages, Plutarch enjoys grounding political figures in much shorter biographies that all surround a common theme or event. I am aware that originally Plutarch’s Lives were meant to shift from Greek to Roman (and on again) but the beauty of this edition is showcasing five incredibly impactful late Republican Romans all before the backdrop of Julius Caesar (whose biography serves as a sort of nucleus for the other four). Unfortunately, the politics of our liberal west shall remain droll and dull, unable in anyway to produce a future Plutarch, regardless of how “passionate” or “inspiring” our neo-con and neo-lib politicians present themselves.

[Nicole Seitler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book to read while my high school student was studying Rome this year and it was one of my favorites! I’ve heard great things about reading Plutarch and I’m glad I took the time to read these five lives. I’m also looking forward to finding a copy of a few Greek lives the next time I have a student going through ancient history. I don’t know that I would be up for reading through the entire volume of all of Plutarch’s Lives, but this small sampling was perfect—especially in light of the fact that the lives of these five men all overlapped. It was an excellent primer on the birth of the Roman Empire and a perfect companion for reading Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (which is something else we are reading together this year). I highly recommend this book if you are interested in this period of history! This translation was lovely and the notes were very helpful!

[Jalen Sowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good overview of the events of the Roman Civil War that led to the creation of the Roman Empire.

The book centers on 5 major characters, the primary two being Ceasar himself and Pompey. It's written via original sources 100 years after the events themselves transpired. It's nice because the book isn't heavily narrated and additional opinions aren't offered, it's just the raw history of what happened and is very easy to read through.

It does get repetitive because it's essentially re-hashing the same overarching narrative of the Civil War from different perspectives, but if you want a good look at the major players behind the most pivotal time in Roman history, it's as good as you're going to get.

[JW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable translation of five of Plutarch’s classic lives. These figures from antiquity become personalized in this account – the ancient marble busts become flesh and blood. The introductory essays by James Romm and Mary Beard quickly and ably place these statesmen and rogues in historic context, while the concluding description of the Roman Republic’s constitution makes the workings of that regime less confusing. A great read for anyone who has just watched Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra or HBO’s Rome.

[Adam Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My purpose for reading, this book was to provide some biblical background to the life of Christ. I found this book to be helpful, explaining some things in the Bible that was quite unclear. Two examples among many that I gain from this book was the ingrained culture of seeking power and being first seen among the disciples in their arguments. Another was the importance that Romans placed on their dreams to foretell an important event. We see this with Pilate’s wife. There are many other illustrations that can be gleaned as well.

[Tyler Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

We need half-stars, this is really more a 3.5.

Solid translation of Plutarch, with nice, flowing prose.

However, I'd forgotten what an aristocratic tool Plutarch was. It's rather amusing that he upholds Pompey and condemns Caesar when Pompey bore as much- if not more- of the blame for killing the Republic than Caesar. Every action of the Caesarians is interpreted in the worst possible light, every action of the Pompeians and Catonians showered with praise.

[Geoff Atwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent update to Plutarch’s Lives

A modern translation updating the language and correcting older translations. For example, Cleopatra was not brought to Caesar rolled in a carpet, but carried in a bag used for bedding. The text is limited to the five major players in the civil wars, which improves readability. Also, the footnotes are plentiful and quite helpful. The improved language makes the text read more like a novel. Excellent all around.

[Chris Linehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Plutarch. I enjoy Mary Beard. This was a fun history to read. My ranking of the five Roman Lives: Caesar, Pompey, Cicero - though I think Plutarch was a bit harsh on him, Brutus, Antony. I had the most difficulty with the last not conjuring a mental image of James Purefoy as I was reading the Antony section. That may have played into the ranking a bit.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those wacky Romans. Extremely entertaining - war, politics, backstabbing, etc. Four stars because it's a little tough to keep up at first, though the editors and translators do a great job of annotating Plutarch to make things a little easier to understand.

[Rifat Islam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutus was a philosopher and scholar at heart, studying great Greek epigrams and the histories of Polybius in tents on the battlefield.

Caesar had an unsatiable desire for power and pleasing the people. His magnanimity is a virtue.

[Linus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, going into fairly great detail, telling the story of some of the great figures of late Republic and early Imperial Roman history, such as Caesar, Mark Anthony, Magnus Pompei etc. Recommended to anyone interested in classical history.

[Jimmy]

Pompey was very long and very boring, until Pharsalus and Egypt naturally. Caesar was good. Skimmed Cicero and Brutus. Marc Antony was superb. The other lives have great scenes but beggar a bit of sifting, Marc Antony could stand as is as a work of lit next to anything.

[Jose Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a primer about the lives of 5 famous Roman leaders. Someone’s hero is someone else’s villain. A robe made of the finest fabric is no match for a treacherous hand with a dagger.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the first few lives. Interesting primary source. Translation is very readable. Footnotes are really useful.

[Richard Hessney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Translation with notes of the lives of Pompey, Julius Caesar, Cicero, Brutus and Mark Antony. Important for his insights into the character of these central figures of the Late Republic.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable combination of commentary, history and political discourse.

[Jerrell Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Respect grew for Brutus and Antony.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"One should therefore respect and admire the ancient Romans."

[Thomas Drusnitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela’s translation is the best out there. Also enjoyed Mary’s introduction.