What do you think?
Rate this book
Julius Caesar
A biography and examination of the great Roman leader.
187 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
12 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Michael Grant
166 books158 followersMichael Grant was an English classisist, numismatist, and author of numerous popular books on ancient history. His 1956 translation of Tacitus’s Annals of Imperial Rome remains a standard of the work. He once described himself as "one of the very few freelances in the field of ancient history: a rare phenomenon". As a popularizer, his hallmarks were his prolific output and his unwillingness to oversimplify or talk down to his readership.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 20, 2018
"Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs...."
So says Shakespeare about one of the giants of history, a man assassinated by those who feared his tyranny, Julius Caesar. But there was no doubt that he was brilliant-- not only a military genius, but an astute politician. Moreover, he was a great showman--he certainly knew how to publicize himself. Michael Grant's bio of Caesar sets him in his time--a time when Rome was a republic, but in name only. The Romans had destroyed their main rivals-- the North African city of Carthage--and had become an empire dominating the Mediterranean Sea. Julius Caesar was born into this world in 100 B.C. We see young Caesar going into politics and the military and making his way to the top. His big break was to gain command of Roman forces in Gaul (France) and conquer all the various Celtic tribes of the territory, people who were regarded as "barbarians" but who had developed agriculture, trade, and the arts ( their population may have numbered around 15 million). The conquest was carried out with great brutality--Caesar assessed the enemy deaths at 1,192,000, with thousands more enslaved. The plunder and slaves enriched Caesar and his men and aided him in his achieving political success. Caesar's main rival was the general Pompey who led the legions to victories in the Eastern Med. The showdown between the two men led to a civil war, in which Caesar defeated Pompey in the decisive Battle of Pharsalus in Greece in 48 B.C. Caesar also became involved in Egypt--and with its queen, Cleopatra. Finally, back in Rome, in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was made "perpetual dictator" thus breaking with Roman tradition. The conservative oligarchs of Rome--men like Brutus--feared the increasing power of Caesar. On the Ides of March (March 15th), Brutus and other Roman senators attacked the great man and stabbed him to death. It has to be understood that this was no attempt to save democracy, as there was none. The oligarchs were only trying to hold onto their power. Civil war would break out once again--and, in the end, Caesar's nephew Octavius would emerge as the new power in the empire--and become known as Caesar Augustus, the man who would establish the Pax Romana-the Roman Peace.
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs...."
So says Shakespeare about one of the giants of history, a man assassinated by those who feared his tyranny, Julius Caesar. But there was no doubt that he was brilliant-- not only a military genius, but an astute politician. Moreover, he was a great showman--he certainly knew how to publicize himself. Michael Grant's bio of Caesar sets him in his time--a time when Rome was a republic, but in name only. The Romans had destroyed their main rivals-- the North African city of Carthage--and had become an empire dominating the Mediterranean Sea. Julius Caesar was born into this world in 100 B.C. We see young Caesar going into politics and the military and making his way to the top. His big break was to gain command of Roman forces in Gaul (France) and conquer all the various Celtic tribes of the territory, people who were regarded as "barbarians" but who had developed agriculture, trade, and the arts ( their population may have numbered around 15 million). The conquest was carried out with great brutality--Caesar assessed the enemy deaths at 1,192,000, with thousands more enslaved. The plunder and slaves enriched Caesar and his men and aided him in his achieving political success. Caesar's main rival was the general Pompey who led the legions to victories in the Eastern Med. The showdown between the two men led to a civil war, in which Caesar defeated Pompey in the decisive Battle of Pharsalus in Greece in 48 B.C. Caesar also became involved in Egypt--and with its queen, Cleopatra. Finally, back in Rome, in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was made "perpetual dictator" thus breaking with Roman tradition. The conservative oligarchs of Rome--men like Brutus--feared the increasing power of Caesar. On the Ides of March (March 15th), Brutus and other Roman senators attacked the great man and stabbed him to death. It has to be understood that this was no attempt to save democracy, as there was none. The oligarchs were only trying to hold onto their power. Civil war would break out once again--and, in the end, Caesar's nephew Octavius would emerge as the new power in the empire--and become known as Caesar Augustus, the man who would establish the Pax Romana-the Roman Peace.
March 7, 2016
A short but well-written biography of Julius Caesar based primarily upon the writings of Caesar himself and his contemporaries.
When the Roman Empire fell, it did not fall all at once. Rather, it fell gradually, in a series of small steps. The borders became porous, "barbarians" gradually were enlisted in the Roman army and given citizenship even though they were not assimilated into the country's culture, several barbarian kings were given the emperor's crown to induce them to halt their depredations, and finally, when Odoacer officially brought the West Roman Empire to an end in 476 A.D., the only thing he did differently from his predecessors was that he sent the Roman Emperor's insignia of office to the East Roman Empire in Constantinople and ruled as the conqueror of Rome, rather than calling himself Roman Emperor.
The most striking aspect of Michael Grant's biography of Caesar is how it shows the Roman Republic also slid gradually into despotism, rather than falling all at once. Prior to Caesar's time, ambitious Romans began to build up independent bases of power in the army and the mob in Rome itself, and to appropriate the state's financial resources to pay their supporters. Caesar played this game assiduously, and so successfully that he joined with the two acknowledged masters of Roman politics, Pompey and Crassus, to form the "First Triumvirate," who eclipsed and lorded over all other Romans. Crassus conveniently lost his life in a misguided invasion of the Parthian Empire (which ruled Persia and Mesopotamia), which ended with most of his soldiers killed or enslaved, and Crassus' head placed on a pike for the viewing pleasure of the Parthian elite. Several years later, when Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army to attack Pompey's soldiers, it was viewed as the step from which there could be no retreat - and the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has entered the language with this meaning - but in reality the Roman Republic was so decayed by this time that it held little practical significance. Caesar proceeded to win his civil war against Pompey, and ruled through his final years as an absolute despot. The Roman elite were saved from further humiliation at Caesar's hands by the actions of Brutus, Cassius, and others at the Ides of March, but the new Roman Empire lived on, with many of Roman culture's greatest achievements coming during this time.
When the Roman Empire fell, it did not fall all at once. Rather, it fell gradually, in a series of small steps. The borders became porous, "barbarians" gradually were enlisted in the Roman army and given citizenship even though they were not assimilated into the country's culture, several barbarian kings were given the emperor's crown to induce them to halt their depredations, and finally, when Odoacer officially brought the West Roman Empire to an end in 476 A.D., the only thing he did differently from his predecessors was that he sent the Roman Emperor's insignia of office to the East Roman Empire in Constantinople and ruled as the conqueror of Rome, rather than calling himself Roman Emperor.
The most striking aspect of Michael Grant's biography of Caesar is how it shows the Roman Republic also slid gradually into despotism, rather than falling all at once. Prior to Caesar's time, ambitious Romans began to build up independent bases of power in the army and the mob in Rome itself, and to appropriate the state's financial resources to pay their supporters. Caesar played this game assiduously, and so successfully that he joined with the two acknowledged masters of Roman politics, Pompey and Crassus, to form the "First Triumvirate," who eclipsed and lorded over all other Romans. Crassus conveniently lost his life in a misguided invasion of the Parthian Empire (which ruled Persia and Mesopotamia), which ended with most of his soldiers killed or enslaved, and Crassus' head placed on a pike for the viewing pleasure of the Parthian elite. Several years later, when Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army to attack Pompey's soldiers, it was viewed as the step from which there could be no retreat - and the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has entered the language with this meaning - but in reality the Roman Republic was so decayed by this time that it held little practical significance. Caesar proceeded to win his civil war against Pompey, and ruled through his final years as an absolute despot. The Roman elite were saved from further humiliation at Caesar's hands by the actions of Brutus, Cassius, and others at the Ides of March, but the new Roman Empire lived on, with many of Roman culture's greatest achievements coming during this time.
December 22, 2019
This is a very enjoyable biography of Julius Caesar.
There are a few maps that throughout the book that don't include all the places mentioned in the text.
This are lots of photos but many are completely irrelevant to the text, or way out of place.
p. 15: "But it still remains impossible to think of anyone who has ever united a more spectacular and varied collection of talents."
p. 48: "Catulus became one of the two men whom Caesar disliked more than anyone else throughout his life (the other was to be Cato)."
p. 51: "Caesar disbelieved totally in religion" but was pontifex maximus.
p. 71: Pompey: "Eight times during his life he changed his party allegiance."
p. 91: "And so in March 58 Cicero went into exile in the Balkans, spending sixteen months in the gloomiest and most articulately deplored experience of his life."
p. 101: "Caesar, to emphasise that the current menace was equally grave, perhaps overstresses the contrast between the comparative culture of Gauls and the savage ferocity of Germans."
p. 118: "Caesar's principal deputy commander was Labienus." Titus Labienus (c. 100 BC – March 17, 45 BC)
p. 122: "A feature of Caesar's own dinners was that they were served in two rooms, so that he would not have to endure the company of the more boring among his guests."
p. 140: "He had ended the prehistory of western Europe, and started its history, of which we are the heirs."
p. 151: "If you lack soldiers, you will have no money, but if you lack money there will be no soldiers."
p. 165: "He insists that he is fighting not to destroy his enemies but to reconcile existing differences with as little bloodshed as possible."
p. 182: Battle of Pharsalus
p. 186: Napoleon wrote about Caesar
p. 188: Pompey was killed on September 28, 48 BC.
p. 192: "[Cleopatra] thought it was very important to meet Caesar face to face, since she considered her looks her greatest assets."
p. 199: "Four (or perhaps seven) hundred thousand books ... were destroyed."
p. 204: Caesar was good to the Jews.
p. 206: "This battle, fought on 1 August 47, was the occasion when Caesar, writing to a correspondent in Rome, borrowed from a Greek writer, said to have been the philosopher Democritus, the immortal, arrogant epigram 'I came, I saw, I conquered' -- intended to outbid a claim which Pompey had couched in similar terms after his own more protracted eastern campaigning."
p. 229: The Julian calendar is developed.
p. 245: "The illness seems to have been epilepsy."
p. 246: Caesar may have been impotent as he had sex with many women but only had one child, Julia.
p. 248: "Burebistas backed by the teetotal severity of his priestly advisor, who had every vine in the country pulled up."
There are a few maps that throughout the book that don't include all the places mentioned in the text.
This are lots of photos but many are completely irrelevant to the text, or way out of place.
p. 15: "But it still remains impossible to think of anyone who has ever united a more spectacular and varied collection of talents."
p. 48: "Catulus became one of the two men whom Caesar disliked more than anyone else throughout his life (the other was to be Cato)."
p. 51: "Caesar disbelieved totally in religion" but was pontifex maximus.
p. 71: Pompey: "Eight times during his life he changed his party allegiance."
p. 91: "And so in March 58 Cicero went into exile in the Balkans, spending sixteen months in the gloomiest and most articulately deplored experience of his life."
p. 101: "Caesar, to emphasise that the current menace was equally grave, perhaps overstresses the contrast between the comparative culture of Gauls and the savage ferocity of Germans."
p. 118: "Caesar's principal deputy commander was Labienus." Titus Labienus (c. 100 BC – March 17, 45 BC)
p. 122: "A feature of Caesar's own dinners was that they were served in two rooms, so that he would not have to endure the company of the more boring among his guests."
p. 140: "He had ended the prehistory of western Europe, and started its history, of which we are the heirs."
p. 151: "If you lack soldiers, you will have no money, but if you lack money there will be no soldiers."
p. 165: "He insists that he is fighting not to destroy his enemies but to reconcile existing differences with as little bloodshed as possible."
p. 182: Battle of Pharsalus
p. 186: Napoleon wrote about Caesar
p. 188: Pompey was killed on September 28, 48 BC.
p. 192: "[Cleopatra] thought it was very important to meet Caesar face to face, since she considered her looks her greatest assets."
p. 199: "Four (or perhaps seven) hundred thousand books ... were destroyed."
p. 204: Caesar was good to the Jews.
p. 206: "This battle, fought on 1 August 47, was the occasion when Caesar, writing to a correspondent in Rome, borrowed from a Greek writer, said to have been the philosopher Democritus, the immortal, arrogant epigram 'I came, I saw, I conquered' -- intended to outbid a claim which Pompey had couched in similar terms after his own more protracted eastern campaigning."
p. 229: The Julian calendar is developed.
p. 245: "The illness seems to have been epilepsy."
p. 246: Caesar may have been impotent as he had sex with many women but only had one child, Julia.
p. 248: "Burebistas backed by the teetotal severity of his priestly advisor, who had every vine in the country pulled up."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2023
I'm usually not greatly impressed with Michael Grant's writing. The author of many popular books about classical antiquity, interest in the topics he's written about have had me essay several of them in the past. This one, however, is a cut above the rest, being one of the better biographies of Caesar I've ever read. Some of the reason for this may simply be that it's so critical. While Grant allows that Caesar was an exceptional military leader, he portrays him as an amoral opportunist in his personal and political life.
This is not a scholarly work. Quotations are given, sometimes without clear reference. Photographs and maps don't always illuminate the text very much--and the maps are simply inadequate.
This is not a scholarly work. Quotations are given, sometimes without clear reference. Photographs and maps don't always illuminate the text very much--and the maps are simply inadequate.
March 10, 2018
A fair enough short biography of Gaius Julius Caesar. Straith and forward.
July 25, 2022
The biography is brief yet thorough, though the dry writing makes it seem longer.
December 14, 2022
Sehr zäh geschrieben. Würde ich nicht empfehlen. Musste mich durchquälen
Want to read
December 27, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14337691
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14337691
May 3, 2013
Versus contemporary biographies, this particular tome actually consists of societal analysis. How essentially the culture of the late republic led to someone like Caesar taking full advantage of the situation and turn the political structures of the Roman Republic upon its head. Modern biograghies give the impression that it was a singular man of emmense talent and intelligence that accomplished it all without sight of the existing societal, economic, and political environments.
May 29, 2014
Wow, this was bad. I actually couldn't finish it. I got about 1/4 of the way through and had used up all of my library renewals. There was interesting information in the book, but it was presented in a very boring way. I might get it out of the library again, but that would be only because I hate the idea of not finishing a book.
March 15, 2014
The major drawback to this review of Caesar's life is that the author insists on stating, with conviction, what Caesar and others were thinking and feeling, and what their motivations were. Obviously, this is impossible, and it weakens the entire book.
September 12, 2007
A solid biography of Caesar. Good information and worthwhile to get some background. It does end rather suddenly, though, which was a surprise for me.
July 31, 2009
Grant is always reliable ... and always a little dry. I read his stuff .. nod off .. and read more of his stuff.
November 25, 2017
Ok biography. More fun to read Caesar directly.
March 18, 2012
An interesting view of a a man who after two thousand years still interests the Western World. A good and brief view of Caesar, as a general book.
November 11, 2012
Good primer on Caesar.
Read
October 10, 2014One of the greatest novels by Shakespeare.The joy of reading in Roman language gives you extreme feeling of being their and watching the live acts and scenes.
May 1, 2015
Well worth the time, and not a lot of that needs to be spent reading this.
October 2, 2021
Detailed. I enjoyed it but it was hefty read for me at the time.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews