What do you think?
Rate this book
Osprey Essential Histories #42
Caesar's Civil War
Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great were two of the greatest generals Rome had ever produced. Together they had brought vast stretches of territory under Roman dominion. In 49 BC they turned against each other and plunged Rome into civil war. Legion was pitched against legion in a vicious battle for political domination of the vast Roman world. Based on original sources, Adrian Goldsworthy provides a gripping account of this desperate power struggle. The armies were evenly matched but in the end Caesar's genius as a commander and his great good luck brought him victory in 45 BC.
96 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2002
8 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Goldsworthy
45 books1,555 followersAdrian Goldsworthy, born in 1969, is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. He lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries for the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. He lives in the UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars — A Short, Brilliant Time-Travel with Caesar and Goldsworthy
So what do you do when you’re laid up with illness? Simple — read, read, read! Luckily, I stumbled upon a short volume by my favorite ancient Roman historian, Adrian Goldsworthy, and what a treat it turned out to be. Caesar’s Civil War might be small in size, but it’s mighty in scope — a lean, clear, and wonderfully approachable journey back to one of Rome’s most dramatic moments.
Reading this book felt like a magnificent act of time travel — not only to Caesar’s tumultuous campaigns, but also to the early days of Goldsworthy’s own writing career. First published in 2002, it showcases the crisp storytelling, deep scholarship, and accessible prose that would later make him the standard-bearer for all things Rome. The volume is beautifully illustrated, with many of the images taken by Goldsworthy himself, giving it an intimate and almost personal touch.
Coming right on the heels of David Potter’s Julius Caesar, this little gem provided the perfect companion piece — compact but filled with insight, energy, and clarity. I loved how it distilled so much complexity into such an elegant format.
If you can track down a copy of this 20-plus-year-old book, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re a die-hard Roman history buff or just need a captivating escape while recovering on the couch, Caesar’s Civil War delivers exactly what you’d hope for: vivid history, clean storytelling, and the unmistakable voice of Goldsworthy at his best.
So what do you do when you’re laid up with illness? Simple — read, read, read! Luckily, I stumbled upon a short volume by my favorite ancient Roman historian, Adrian Goldsworthy, and what a treat it turned out to be. Caesar’s Civil War might be small in size, but it’s mighty in scope — a lean, clear, and wonderfully approachable journey back to one of Rome’s most dramatic moments.
Reading this book felt like a magnificent act of time travel — not only to Caesar’s tumultuous campaigns, but also to the early days of Goldsworthy’s own writing career. First published in 2002, it showcases the crisp storytelling, deep scholarship, and accessible prose that would later make him the standard-bearer for all things Rome. The volume is beautifully illustrated, with many of the images taken by Goldsworthy himself, giving it an intimate and almost personal touch.
Coming right on the heels of David Potter’s Julius Caesar, this little gem provided the perfect companion piece — compact but filled with insight, energy, and clarity. I loved how it distilled so much complexity into such an elegant format.
If you can track down a copy of this 20-plus-year-old book, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re a die-hard Roman history buff or just need a captivating escape while recovering on the couch, Caesar’s Civil War delivers exactly what you’d hope for: vivid history, clean storytelling, and the unmistakable voice of Goldsworthy at his best.
November 29, 2019
A "meh!" book, is just an excellent introduction to this rather complex subject.
October 6, 2011
Ever since the event happened, the conflict of the Roman Civil War had been told and retold. It is a conflict full of colorful characters and concepts. Caesar himself gave his own interpretation, as would other historians, artists, poets, and writers. One of the world's leading experts on Rome, Adrian Goldsworthy, sums it all up in this little over ninety page work. This is a colossal tale that took place in a colossal time.
Goldsworthy's work begins with a brief summery of what the Roman Empire had been through up until that time. He talks how the building of an empire put so much strain on the Republic that the institutions were in a state of decay and no longer provided much benefit to the average citizen either in home or in the provinces. By page 20, however we get to the actual conflict that creates one of the most famous Civil Wars in the history of the world. Caesar and Pompey, two old friends, allies, in-laws and two of the greatest military heroes in Roman history go head to head for the fate of the city and civilization that both that had devoted their lives.
"The suddenness of Caesar's advance surprised and unnerved his opponents, just as he had intended. Pompey had left Rome in the second half of January, declaring that it could not be defended. He was followed by most of the magistrates, including the consuls, who left in such haste it suggested panic. Many Romans were still uncertain about just how firmly committed each side was to fighting, and this open admission of military weakness made many wonder whether Pompey could really be relied on to defend the Republic." p.31
Like the other to books I reviewed in this series, the work has a textbook format with out having a textbook feel. While most textbooks are dry and devoid of real substance this work is full of life trying to describe a single--although highly significant--historical event. This work not only Goldsworthy's extraordinary writing but also there are maps, detail analysis of battles, chapters devoted to both the military and civilians in this time period. For example, `Portrait of a Civilian' covers Cicero, the greatest orator of his time. The book also takes a close look at Caesar's centurions describing what the war was like for them. There is also at the end an overall historical analysis view of Julius Caesar's career, overall legacy and real ambitions.
"There are essentially two ways of viewing Caesar. The first is to see him as a man perceptive enough to understand that the Republican constitution could no longer function. Throughout his career he had taken considerable interest in the conditions of the poor in Rome and the native population in Rome's provinces, and realized that the territories could not be run simply for the selfish benefit of a tiny elite in Rome." p.78
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a brief but informative summery into one of the most famous military and political conflicts the world had ever seen: the Roman Civil War of Caesar and Pompey.
Goldsworthy's work begins with a brief summery of what the Roman Empire had been through up until that time. He talks how the building of an empire put so much strain on the Republic that the institutions were in a state of decay and no longer provided much benefit to the average citizen either in home or in the provinces. By page 20, however we get to the actual conflict that creates one of the most famous Civil Wars in the history of the world. Caesar and Pompey, two old friends, allies, in-laws and two of the greatest military heroes in Roman history go head to head for the fate of the city and civilization that both that had devoted their lives.
"The suddenness of Caesar's advance surprised and unnerved his opponents, just as he had intended. Pompey had left Rome in the second half of January, declaring that it could not be defended. He was followed by most of the magistrates, including the consuls, who left in such haste it suggested panic. Many Romans were still uncertain about just how firmly committed each side was to fighting, and this open admission of military weakness made many wonder whether Pompey could really be relied on to defend the Republic." p.31
Like the other to books I reviewed in this series, the work has a textbook format with out having a textbook feel. While most textbooks are dry and devoid of real substance this work is full of life trying to describe a single--although highly significant--historical event. This work not only Goldsworthy's extraordinary writing but also there are maps, detail analysis of battles, chapters devoted to both the military and civilians in this time period. For example, `Portrait of a Civilian' covers Cicero, the greatest orator of his time. The book also takes a close look at Caesar's centurions describing what the war was like for them. There is also at the end an overall historical analysis view of Julius Caesar's career, overall legacy and real ambitions.
"There are essentially two ways of viewing Caesar. The first is to see him as a man perceptive enough to understand that the Republican constitution could no longer function. Throughout his career he had taken considerable interest in the conditions of the poor in Rome and the native population in Rome's provinces, and realized that the territories could not be run simply for the selfish benefit of a tiny elite in Rome." p.78
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a brief but informative summery into one of the most famous military and political conflicts the world had ever seen: the Roman Civil War of Caesar and Pompey.
October 12, 2022
If you want the real story on Anthony and Cleopatra, it’s here. Though her first Roman lover was Julius Caesar.
Well-written and concisely put, we have the story of the civil wars that occurred prior to the Ides of March and Caesar’s assassination, and the civil wars that followed that dealt death blows to those who murdered him in cold blood - especially Brutus, as in: “And you too, Brutus? Then fall, Caesar.” We see the demise of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. And the rise of Octavian to the title of Caesar Augustus. (Take note that our July is named after Julius Caesar and our August after Augustus Caesar.)
The benefit of these shorter volumes is that it is easier to take in the whole story and retain the most important elements in your head for a good while. It is a great way of grasping the essentials.
Five stars. Ancient history affects modern day events constantly. Just like the Julian calendar 📆 that will be with so many regions of the world forever.
Well-written and concisely put, we have the story of the civil wars that occurred prior to the Ides of March and Caesar’s assassination, and the civil wars that followed that dealt death blows to those who murdered him in cold blood - especially Brutus, as in: “And you too, Brutus? Then fall, Caesar.” We see the demise of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. And the rise of Octavian to the title of Caesar Augustus. (Take note that our July is named after Julius Caesar and our August after Augustus Caesar.)
The benefit of these shorter volumes is that it is easier to take in the whole story and retain the most important elements in your head for a good while. It is a great way of grasping the essentials.
Five stars. Ancient history affects modern day events constantly. Just like the Julian calendar 📆 that will be with so many regions of the world forever.
August 24, 2021
The palpably textbookish way of presenting 'what is the civil war and what are the factors contributing to its cause' is not a drawback. This book succeeds to be both engaging and easy to follow, as it presents the events leading up to, during and after the Civil War in chronological order, with brief asides to discuss contextual factors, historical legacies, and the background to key characters. Especially helpful supporting materials are timelines, maps and even graphically-depicted battle strategies. It is the ideal read for someone wishing a detailed and yet 'start at the beginning'/amateurs welcome, detailed introduction to the subject.
August 26, 2023
This was a good summary of the events leading up to and immediately following Caesar's civil wars. We get information about all of the major characters, and details about the various battles. The book is short (just over 90 pages) with many great diagrams of battles and images of relevant people and events. If you already know a lot about Caesar and the end of the Roman Republic, this won't be for you. But for me, it provided a nice overview.
May 14, 2023
Excellent summary of the end of the Roman Republic. A great starting place for further study for the non academic like myself. Thank you Adrian Goldsworthy, you never fail to produce highly interesting Roman history books.
September 13, 2020
This is an excellent overview of the Civil War. This volume includes the basis for the war, the struggle in Egypt and Spain. The volume is divided into the background of the conflict, the underlying causes, a narrative chronology of the war, with illustrated maps of the campaigns and individual battles, a section on a civilian during the war with Cicero as an example, and the conclusion and consequences. The volume is highly accessible and is well-structured.
This volume was an early work by Goldsworthy who was then pursuing his Ph.D.
This volume was an early work by Goldsworthy who was then pursuing his Ph.D.
May 29, 2023
Very Good Introduction, Especially Given its Very Short Length
Any review of this book would have to start by stating it is part of Osprey Publishing's "EssentialHistories" series. For the uninitiated, these books are relatively short, at only about 94 pages in length. About (unscientifically) a third of the book consists of a variety of illustrations (i.e. maps, photographs of busts of leading figures, etc.) hence the text is even shorter, at more like 60 pages. Hence if a reader is looking for an academic tome on the subject this is not it. If one is looking for such a book on this topic this reviewer highly recommends Dr. Goldsworthy's more recent book "Caeser". This Osprey book is more of an executive synopsis of the portion of "Caeser" that deals with the Civil War and topics ancillary to it (i.e. previous political problems leading to it, leading figures, Caeser's personality, etc.). Then again, as Caeser is about 700 pages in length and this book on the Civil War less than a tenth of that length in terms of text, it is not fair to compare the two books. The realquestion to ask is how well does it perform as short introduction? In short, very well.
Dr. Goldsworthy touches (with that being the key word) on all the major topics (i.e. Caeser's personality, leading political figures of the time, political events preceeding and leading to the war, etc.) related to the war as well as providing a decent narrative of the war and how it played out. All of this in only about 60 pages of text (about an hour and a half of a reader's time). For those interested in a Cliff Notes style introduction to the topic, highly recommended.
The only critique this reviewer has of the book, of any significance, is that the book should have eliminated its final chapter, the post-Caeserian civil war between Octavian and his opponents (especially Mark Anthony). Not that this is not an interesting or related topic but simply because the book was already too short and these extra pages could have been used more productively discussion and analyzing Caeser's civil war per se.
Any review of this book would have to start by stating it is part of Osprey Publishing's "EssentialHistories" series. For the uninitiated, these books are relatively short, at only about 94 pages in length. About (unscientifically) a third of the book consists of a variety of illustrations (i.e. maps, photographs of busts of leading figures, etc.) hence the text is even shorter, at more like 60 pages. Hence if a reader is looking for an academic tome on the subject this is not it. If one is looking for such a book on this topic this reviewer highly recommends Dr. Goldsworthy's more recent book "Caeser". This Osprey book is more of an executive synopsis of the portion of "Caeser" that deals with the Civil War and topics ancillary to it (i.e. previous political problems leading to it, leading figures, Caeser's personality, etc.). Then again, as Caeser is about 700 pages in length and this book on the Civil War less than a tenth of that length in terms of text, it is not fair to compare the two books. The realquestion to ask is how well does it perform as short introduction? In short, very well.
Dr. Goldsworthy touches (with that being the key word) on all the major topics (i.e. Caeser's personality, leading political figures of the time, political events preceeding and leading to the war, etc.) related to the war as well as providing a decent narrative of the war and how it played out. All of this in only about 60 pages of text (about an hour and a half of a reader's time). For those interested in a Cliff Notes style introduction to the topic, highly recommended.
The only critique this reviewer has of the book, of any significance, is that the book should have eliminated its final chapter, the post-Caeserian civil war between Octavian and his opponents (especially Mark Anthony). Not that this is not an interesting or related topic but simply because the book was already too short and these extra pages could have been used more productively discussion and analyzing Caeser's civil war per se.
August 18, 2024
Caesar’s Civil War is an unfocused slice of Rome’s Republican history. While it mainly focuses on Caesar, far too much time is spent on the initial exposition and subsequent denouement. We get both the weakening of Rome’s ties to her Legions and the rise of Octavian. But all these events are presented chronologically. We’re reading about the Republic’s last century — which happens to contain a lot of Julius Caesar — instead of a novel dedicated to the general.
Caesar’s Civil War would have been better rewritten to be topical. It could focus on how Caesar convinced legionnaires to raise arms against Rome. It could focus on his political failures as Dictator, and how those were lessons that Octavian took to heart. Those points are there, but they’re buried in service to the chronology. And in the days of Wikipedia, that’s not a good enough reason to publish a book.
Not Recommended, with Reservations.
Caesar’s Civil War would have been better rewritten to be topical. It could focus on how Caesar convinced legionnaires to raise arms against Rome. It could focus on his political failures as Dictator, and how those were lessons that Octavian took to heart. Those points are there, but they’re buried in service to the chronology. And in the days of Wikipedia, that’s not a good enough reason to publish a book.
Not Recommended, with Reservations.
April 22, 2019
Julius Caesar's Civil War with Rom and Pompey is well known in books, plays and all media - spawning as it did more great days for Rome, and the Roman Empire. This books reviews the reasons behind the Civil War, explors whether is was certain to occur and what may have stopped it, and the battles between Caesar and Pompey.
I very good, clear, concise overview of the period and the aftermath, requiring limit pre-knowledge of the events. With good maps and pictures of artifacts it helps bring the reader closer to the Civil War.
I very good, clear, concise overview of the period and the aftermath, requiring limit pre-knowledge of the events. With good maps and pictures of artifacts it helps bring the reader closer to the Civil War.
January 21, 2024
Typical decent overview with decent maps and photographs. (Some of the photographs would've been better if smaller on one page so the item being highlighted was not partially obscured by the binding.)
Read
January 28, 2022Just ok. Not very thorough. Look for a better book with move detail on the Civil War in Rome. During the time of Caesar.
January 5, 2025
A concise story telling for a complex figure. I like it.
August 30, 2012
Three because it is nothing that I really haven't read before as well as I wanted it to be longer! I love Goldsworthy's writing!
January 5, 2023
Covered the topic extremely well. Certainly helped improve my understanding of the period. Included a useful timeline overview.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews