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Masters of Rome #4
Caesar's Women
Thick, Med Sz PB
867 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
296 people are currently reading
5740 people want to read
About the author
Colleen McCullough
128 books3,151 followersColleen Margaretta McCullough was an Australian author known for her novels, her most well-known being The Thorn Birds and Tim.
Raised by her mother in Wellington and then Sydney, McCullough began writing stories at age 5. She flourished at Catholic schools and earned a physiology degree from the University of New South Wales in 1963. Planning become a doctor, she found that she had a violent allergy to hospital soap and turned instead to neurophysiology – the study of the nervous system's functions. She found jobs first in London and then at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
After her beloved younger brother Carl died in 1965 at age 25 while rescuing two drowning women in the waters off Crete, a shattered McCullough quit writing. She finally returned to her craft in 1974 with Tim, a critically acclaimed novel about the romance between a female executive and a younger, mentally disabled gardener. As always, the author proved her toughest critic: "Actually," she said, "it was an icky book, saccharine sweet."
A year later, while on a paltry $10,000 annual salary as a Yale researcher, McCullough – just "Col" to her friends – began work on the sprawling The Thorn Birds, about the lives and loves of three generations of an Australian family. Many of its details were drawn from her mother's family's experience as migrant workers, and one character, Dane, was based on brother Carl.
Though some reviews were scathing, millions of readers worldwide got caught up in her tales of doomed love and other natural calamities. The paperback rights sold for an astonishing $1.9 million.
In all, McCullough wrote 11 novels.
Source: http://www.people.com/article/colleen...
Raised by her mother in Wellington and then Sydney, McCullough began writing stories at age 5. She flourished at Catholic schools and earned a physiology degree from the University of New South Wales in 1963. Planning become a doctor, she found that she had a violent allergy to hospital soap and turned instead to neurophysiology – the study of the nervous system's functions. She found jobs first in London and then at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
After her beloved younger brother Carl died in 1965 at age 25 while rescuing two drowning women in the waters off Crete, a shattered McCullough quit writing. She finally returned to her craft in 1974 with Tim, a critically acclaimed novel about the romance between a female executive and a younger, mentally disabled gardener. As always, the author proved her toughest critic: "Actually," she said, "it was an icky book, saccharine sweet."
A year later, while on a paltry $10,000 annual salary as a Yale researcher, McCullough – just "Col" to her friends – began work on the sprawling The Thorn Birds, about the lives and loves of three generations of an Australian family. Many of its details were drawn from her mother's family's experience as migrant workers, and one character, Dane, was based on brother Carl.
Though some reviews were scathing, millions of readers worldwide got caught up in her tales of doomed love and other natural calamities. The paperback rights sold for an astonishing $1.9 million.
In all, McCullough wrote 11 novels.
Source: http://www.people.com/article/colleen...
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October 14, 2023
Caesar’s Women, #4 in the Masters of Rome Series by Colleen McCullough was one hell of a work-out. This is my least favourite of this series, but I still loved it. Let me explain.
Caesar’s Women isn’t the best title. Sure, there are numerous key women in this instalment, and many bump into the rake-like Julius Caesar, many even partake in horizontal refreshments with the man. In fact, Caesar uses this act, putting his ‘body on the line’ if you like, to cuckhold various political opponents. He was prolific in this regard.
The three prominent women in his life, and in this story, were his mother Aurelia (a wonderful, strong, no-nonsense type, a true Matriarch), Julia (Caesar’s beautiful daughter, perfect in every way – betrothed to an acne ridden, uncertain, young Brutus, and later handed over to Pompey the Great – some 30 plus years her senior), and his main lover Servilia (Caeser’s main sex interest – vampish, sexy, an absolute Machiavillianette, oh and she's Brutus’ mum, a political player extraordinaire).......yes, THAT Brutus.
Servilia – Brutus’ mother, Caesar’s primary lover
So yes, there is a focus on some significant women in Caesar’s life here BUT, this is really ALL about politics. In other words, the political rise of Julius Caesar. The juror, orator, charmer, looker, senior consul, fixer – and let’s not deny it, well hung Patrician. Sure, he’s had some minor military success in the East as a young man, but his major military campaigns – eight years of genocide in Gaul, are yet to come – this will be the story of #5 in the series Caesar I expect.
But heck – this was so, so heavy on politics.
Aurelia – Caesar’s mother, what a woman – this lady was ‘large and in charge’
My word I miss the gargantuan characters of Marius and Sulla in previous instalments, the wars, the military shenanigans with only a dash of politics – that’s my ideal cocktail. If you read this episode, you’ll have none of those famous military campaigns, none of the slashing and burning, the fights within and without. This is about the Senate, the Tribune of the Plebs, the Equestrian class, Consuls, Magistrates, Praetors, Governors, and law courts the list goes on. But we meet interesting characters like Cato, Cicero (oh what a wordsmith – he could filibuster with the best of them, and he knew it), Catilina, Hybrida, Curio, Bibulus, Crassus, Ahenobarbus (Nero’s ancestors – the real Ginger Ninjas, a horrible lot really), Piso and so many more. Put it this way, there were around 600 Senators – I think I met half of them.
Cicero – one of Caesar’s political foes. Cicero was fundamental in exposing the Catiline Conspiracy, which resulted in the execution of the conspirators – without trial (massive scandal). This famous incident is covered in this book
So, this was dry at times – perhaps too often. You know the type of book when you pick it up and one’s eyelids become heavy within 5 minutes. Yes, that riveting. But it was wonderful – the amount of research Mrs Mac must have done would’ve been colossal. The 200-page appendix is a testament to that.
But, slogging through this one has been well worth it – I feel this fascinating period of pre-Imperial Rome is very much embedded in my marrow now. Something that can only be attained by spending too much time absorbing material such as this. Sure, this is historical fiction, and Mrs Mac takes liberties, but when one randomly checks the main story points – to be sure, they did happen.
This is one for devoted lovers of Ancient Rome.
4 Stars
Caesar’s Women isn’t the best title. Sure, there are numerous key women in this instalment, and many bump into the rake-like Julius Caesar, many even partake in horizontal refreshments with the man. In fact, Caesar uses this act, putting his ‘body on the line’ if you like, to cuckhold various political opponents. He was prolific in this regard.
The three prominent women in his life, and in this story, were his mother Aurelia (a wonderful, strong, no-nonsense type, a true Matriarch), Julia (Caesar’s beautiful daughter, perfect in every way – betrothed to an acne ridden, uncertain, young Brutus, and later handed over to Pompey the Great – some 30 plus years her senior), and his main lover Servilia (Caeser’s main sex interest – vampish, sexy, an absolute Machiavillianette, oh and she's Brutus’ mum, a political player extraordinaire).......yes, THAT Brutus.
Servilia – Brutus’ mother, Caesar’s primary lover
So yes, there is a focus on some significant women in Caesar’s life here BUT, this is really ALL about politics. In other words, the political rise of Julius Caesar. The juror, orator, charmer, looker, senior consul, fixer – and let’s not deny it, well hung Patrician. Sure, he’s had some minor military success in the East as a young man, but his major military campaigns – eight years of genocide in Gaul, are yet to come – this will be the story of #5 in the series Caesar I expect.
But heck – this was so, so heavy on politics.
Aurelia – Caesar’s mother, what a woman – this lady was ‘large and in charge’
My word I miss the gargantuan characters of Marius and Sulla in previous instalments, the wars, the military shenanigans with only a dash of politics – that’s my ideal cocktail. If you read this episode, you’ll have none of those famous military campaigns, none of the slashing and burning, the fights within and without. This is about the Senate, the Tribune of the Plebs, the Equestrian class, Consuls, Magistrates, Praetors, Governors, and law courts the list goes on. But we meet interesting characters like Cato, Cicero (oh what a wordsmith – he could filibuster with the best of them, and he knew it), Catilina, Hybrida, Curio, Bibulus, Crassus, Ahenobarbus (Nero’s ancestors – the real Ginger Ninjas, a horrible lot really), Piso and so many more. Put it this way, there were around 600 Senators – I think I met half of them.
Cicero – one of Caesar’s political foes. Cicero was fundamental in exposing the Catiline Conspiracy, which resulted in the execution of the conspirators – without trial (massive scandal). This famous incident is covered in this book
So, this was dry at times – perhaps too often. You know the type of book when you pick it up and one’s eyelids become heavy within 5 minutes. Yes, that riveting. But it was wonderful – the amount of research Mrs Mac must have done would’ve been colossal. The 200-page appendix is a testament to that.
But, slogging through this one has been well worth it – I feel this fascinating period of pre-Imperial Rome is very much embedded in my marrow now. Something that can only be attained by spending too much time absorbing material such as this. Sure, this is historical fiction, and Mrs Mac takes liberties, but when one randomly checks the main story points – to be sure, they did happen.
This is one for devoted lovers of Ancient Rome.
4 Stars
July 19, 2009
In Caesar's Women, McCullough finally hits her storytelling stride. Caesar really comes to life, and what a life that is. McCullough is a sympathetic biographer who persuasively fills in the historical outline for Caesar's political career in the fourth novel in her Masters of Rome series, covering roughly ten years. The novel reflects the important women in his life, his mother Aurelia, his daughter Julia, and his mistress Servilia, with minor roles played by his last two wives Pomponia and Calpurnia. The title also alludes to Caesar's prolific female conquests, which McCullough imagines came about due to a marriage between Caesar's strong sexual appeal to women of all classes and his political need to take his rivals down a notch (as well as to prove that he wasn't gay, which was whispered by his envious rivals to a homophobic Roman society).
McCullough admits in her author's note that this novel has the richest historical source material, thereby being much covered by modern writers but also allowing her to detail the patrician Roman woman's life better. It's rather telling that McCullough has convinced this modern woman, who disdains powerful philanderers and suspects sexual psychopathy in individuals who hurt others through repeated casual use, that Caesar not only cared for the women in his life, but that they fully accepted who and what he was. Roman wives of the pre-Christian era expected their husbands to be incontinent; sex was a male bodily hunger that had little to do with marriage. Moreover, marriage was a legal relationship that didn't require fidelity on the man's part.
Besides showing Caesar's domestic relationships, which underpin his political life, McCullough weaves a story of his increasingly hostile interactions with the boni, a group of ultra-conservative Senators who oppose anything Caesar does out of personal animosity. Caesar intends to be the First Man in Rome, to enlarge his personal dignitas until it is synonymous with Rome's, but he wants to make Rome greater in doing so. The boni, however, are quite determined to prevent any man from being greater than his peers. They simultaneously acknowledge Caesar's greater ability while insisting that he can't be greater than they are. They fear that he will make himself a king.
For modern political junkies, reading the ever-increasing dysfunction of the Roman Republic's last days is quite eye-opening. Roman government grinds to a standstill as powerful Senators maneuver to block one another, or bribe electors and jurists, or interpret law to suit their exigencies, or manipulate legal calendars to take advantage of magistrates' short terms in office. Caesar, while a catalyst for some of the filibustering and gridlock, is also capable of cutting the Gordian knot and ruling with a firm, brilliant hand. Although it takes years, decades even, to bring Caesar to his breaking point, McCullough painstakingly lays the groundwork for his famous ride over the Rubicon and his eventual assassination by his implacable, envious enemies.
McCullough admits in her author's note that this novel has the richest historical source material, thereby being much covered by modern writers but also allowing her to detail the patrician Roman woman's life better. It's rather telling that McCullough has convinced this modern woman, who disdains powerful philanderers and suspects sexual psychopathy in individuals who hurt others through repeated casual use, that Caesar not only cared for the women in his life, but that they fully accepted who and what he was. Roman wives of the pre-Christian era expected their husbands to be incontinent; sex was a male bodily hunger that had little to do with marriage. Moreover, marriage was a legal relationship that didn't require fidelity on the man's part.
Besides showing Caesar's domestic relationships, which underpin his political life, McCullough weaves a story of his increasingly hostile interactions with the boni, a group of ultra-conservative Senators who oppose anything Caesar does out of personal animosity. Caesar intends to be the First Man in Rome, to enlarge his personal dignitas until it is synonymous with Rome's, but he wants to make Rome greater in doing so. The boni, however, are quite determined to prevent any man from being greater than his peers. They simultaneously acknowledge Caesar's greater ability while insisting that he can't be greater than they are. They fear that he will make himself a king.
For modern political junkies, reading the ever-increasing dysfunction of the Roman Republic's last days is quite eye-opening. Roman government grinds to a standstill as powerful Senators maneuver to block one another, or bribe electors and jurists, or interpret law to suit their exigencies, or manipulate legal calendars to take advantage of magistrates' short terms in office. Caesar, while a catalyst for some of the filibustering and gridlock, is also capable of cutting the Gordian knot and ruling with a firm, brilliant hand. Although it takes years, decades even, to bring Caesar to his breaking point, McCullough painstakingly lays the groundwork for his famous ride over the Rubicon and his eventual assassination by his implacable, envious enemies.
October 4, 2024
Advertencia: debido a que todavía estoy enferma y a que llevar demasiados días sin poder librarme de la maldita enfermedad me ha puesto de un humor extraordinariamente malo, esta cosa posiblemente va a ser un desastre infinitamente peor que el anterior. Yo avisé.
No, el libro no tiene la culpa. Este, si ignoramos la falta de descripciones sangrientas (lo cual no es nada nuevo, en realidad), es interesante y hasta posee partes atrapantes.
Escenas y demás:
*Silano, enterándose del embarazo y de la infidelidad de su esposa: me pregunto qué afectó más al pobre: ¿recibir las noticias por boca de la propia Servilia o ver la compostura y racionalidad con la que esta manejó la situación?
*El intento de veto menos exitoso que he visto: o cómo intentar vetar la lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis, ser derrotado gracias a muchos votos sucesivos y, finalmente, verse obligado a retirar el veto.
*Pompeyo, danto órdenes claras, precisas y completamente incuestionables:
"—No puede ocurrir lo mismo que en Arausio —aseguró gravemente en la tienda de mando, en una reunión con los legados—. Si a uno de vosotros se le ocurre siquiera tirarse un pedo en una dirección que previamente no haya establecido yo en persona como la dirección correcta para tirarse pedos, le cortaré las pelotas y lo enviaré a los mercados de eunucos de Alejandría —dijo; y lo decía en serio—. Mi imperio es maius, y eso significa que puedo hacer lo que me plazca. Desde el primero hasta el último de vosotros recibirá órdenes escritas tan detalladas y completas que ni siquiera tendréis que decidir por vosotros mismos qué cenaréis pasado mañana. Vosotros haréis lo que se os diga. Si alguno no está dispuesto a obedecer, que hable ahora. De lo contrario cantará como una soprano en la corte del rey Ptolomeo. ¿Entendido?"
incuestionables, digo.
*El asesinato de Quinto Servilio Cepión: él parecía ser un tipo agradable y, honestamente, no creo que mereciera morir de ese modo y hacerlo solo, sin la compañía de amigos o familiares; además —y aunque su hermano no me cae nada bien—, el dolor experimentado por Marco Porcio Catón ante tal acontecimiento es un sentimiento que únicamente le desearía a mi peor enemigo.
*El obstáculo formado por rocas con bordes afilados… rocas manchadas de liquen color rojo sangre: lindo. Me asustan. Miedo.
...Dioses en el cielo, ¿por qué eso existe?
*Lo que llamaré, con especial regocijo, "la venganza de los árabes".
*El triunfo de Marco Porcio Catón en la gran guerra del Tesoro: ¿qué dice de mí que no me alegre la victoria de alguien a quien llaman "incorruptible"?
*La incansable (no bromeo: es incansable) lucha de Cicerón contra Catilina que acaba por convertirse en una persecución.
Vamos gente, es innegable que en un determinado momento eso pasa a ser una persecución en toda regla y no podrán convencerme de lo contrario.
Una persecución aparentemente justificada, sí, pero persecución al fin y al cabo.
*El discurso de Catón —el cual parece principalmente dirigido a atacar ferozmente a César— que es interrumpido por la entrega de una nota con contenido… no adecuado para ser discutido en una sesión senatorial, sí.
*César, deteniendo lo que casi se convierte en una revuelta ciudadana fuera de control con el uso magistral del cariño ganado durante años y de un discurso de aproximadamente una hora: cuando los ciudadanos te aman, te aman.
*El día de la votación de la lex Iulia agraria: no tanto por el acto mismo, sino por el ataque que reciben Catón, Bíbulo y sus lictores a manos de la muchedumbre. Ese es un acontecimiento memorable, oh sí.
"En el momento en que a los hombres de la tribu Cornelia se les llamó a votar en primer lugar, los boni atacaron. Con los lictores que portaban las fasces precediéndole, Bíbulo se abrió paso entre la masa de hombres que rodeaban la plataforma acompañado de Catón, Ahenobarbo, Cayo Pisón, Favonio y los cuatro tribunos de la plebe que controlaba, con Metelo Escipión en cabeza. Los lictores se detuvieron al pie de los escalones de la parte de Pólux; Bíbulo se abrió paso entre ellos y se puso en pie en el primer escalón de abajo.
—¡Cayo Julio César, tú no posees las fasces! ¡Esta asamblea queda invalidada porque yo, el cónsul que ostenta el cargo este mes, no he dado mi consentimiento para que se celebre! ¡Disuélvela o haré que te procesen!
Apenas había salido de su boca la última palabra cuando la multitud bramó y arremetió hacia adelante, con demasiada rapidez como para que ninguno de los cuatro tribunos de la plebe pudiera interponer el veto, o quizás voceando tan fuerte que hizo imposible que se oyera veto alguno. Como Bíbulo era un blanco perfecto por el lugar donde se encontraba, recibió una verdadera lluvia de inmundicia, y cuando sus lictores avanzaron para protegerlo, sus sagradas personas fueron sujetadas; magullados y apaleados, tuvieron que contemplar cómo sus fasces eran aplastadas y hechas pedazos por cien pares de brazos desnudos y manos fornidas. Luego esas mismas manos se volvieron para arremeter contra Bíbulo y abofetearlo en vez de darle puñetazos, y Catón recibió el mismo tratamiento, mientras que el resto se batió en retirada. Después de lo cual alguien vació un enorme cesto de inmundicia sobre la cabeza de Bíbulo, aunque guardó un poco para Catón. Mientras la muchedumbre aullaba de risa, Bíbulo, Catón y los lictores se retiraron."
"¡El Senado no es nada! ¡Los boni no son nada! ¡Pompeyo Magnus no es nada! ¡Yo voy a llegar tan lejos como tenga que llegar para convertirme en el Primer Hombre de Roma durante el resto de mi vida! ¡Y después de mi muerte, seré considerado el romano más grande que jamás haya existido! ¡Nada ni nadie me detendrá! ¡Lo juro por todos mis antepasados, hasta la diosa Venus!"
Tras concluir con sus deberes como cuestor, Cayo Julio César vuelve a Roma completamente dispuesto a promover cambios que cree tremendamente necesarios; sin embargo, es muy consciente de que para alcanzar sus objetivos deberá quedarse durante un largo periodo en la ciudad ganando poder, influencia, clientes y haciendo propaganda. Permanecer en un lugar durante años, sabe, es el sacrificio que ha de hacer si quiere llegar a ejercer un cargo de mando militar y, desde ahí, convertirse no solo en el líder de su propio grupo, sino también en el "Primer Hombre de Roma"… y ese título será suyo, vaya que sí. Lo será, y nada ni nadie le impedirá obtenerlo. Después de todo, él posee antepasados lo suficientemente ilustres como para que dicho nombramiento sea prácticamente algo que le pertenece por derecho y, por eso, César está decidido a dominar a quienes no son sus iguales.
Desafortunadamente para él, no faltarán quienes intenten provocar su caída en desgracia valiéndose de cualquier medio disponible… y desafortunadamente para sus enemigos venideros, César es vengativo, astuto e inteligente… y el tiempo irá volviéndolo despiadado…
Servilia podrá ser la esposa de Décimo Junio Silano, pero también es una mujer inteligente y quien se encarga de sus propios asuntos, a pesar de la ley y de su mismísimo marido… y uno de esos "asuntos" es Marco Junio Bruto, hijo que tuviera en su matrimonio anterior. Así, es ella la que organiza una reunión con Cayo Julio César con el fin de discutir las intenciones que Bruto tiene hacia la hija de este; no obstante y después del segundo encuentro que ambos tienen a solas, esa deja de ser —rápidamente. muy, muy rápidamente— la única razón que la motiva a acercarse al hombre.
Lamentablemente para ella, su aventura extramatrimonial le traerá —además de sensaciones nuevas y desconocidas— dificultades imprevistas y no pocas decepciones… porque amar a Cayo Julio César no está destinado a ser fácil y sencillo…
Esto es algo innegable: Cneo Pompeyo Magnus odia al Senado. Ellos no le enviaron ni los suficientes recursos económicos ni los refuerzos necesarios cuando estuvo en Hispania. Para vengarse, los obligó —con la ayuda de otros dos aliados y de los ejércitos tanto de Marco Craso como suyo— a permitirle presentarse como candidato a cónsul aun sin haber sido senador previamente… y obtuvo el puesto. Se convirtió en cónsul senior, de hecho… y, tras un exitoso año en el cargo, eligió retirarse a la vida privada.
Ahora, Pompeyo desea volver al ojo público… y tiene aliados y planes. Planes como, por ejemplo, obtener otros mandos militares especiales para luchar contra los piratas y contra los reyes Mitrídates y Tigranes…
Aunque Marco Porcio Catón nunca haya dejado de ser extremadamente conservador y un fiel seguidor de los valores impuestos y practicados por Catón el Censor —su prominente bisabuelo—, su hermano jamás, jamás, lo abandonó, no. Quinto Servilio Cepión fue, para el hombre duro y estoico, su roca, su lugar seguro y aquel a quien se permitió amar sin límites… y, entonces, lo perdió de forma repentina… y algo en Catón comenzó a extinguirse, a desaparecer.
Regresar a Roma solo para enterarse de que su esposa le era infiel con el detestable aristócrata Cayo Julio César solamente convirtió la desaparición de ese "algo" en una cosa definitiva e irrevocable y transformó a Catón en alguien más duro e inflexible de lo que ya era… y, desgraciadamente para ciertos romanos que acabarán convirtiéndose en adversarios suyos, el cambio experimentado por él les afectará personalmente…
Al haber sido consentido por sus hermanos mayores mientras crecía, Publio Clodio empezó a acostumbrarse a siempre, siempre, salirse con la suya en todo. Por eso, cuando puso los ojos en una virgen vestal creyó, con total seguridad, que podría conquistarla fácilmente… y falló y por eso, cuando trató de llevar a juicio a dicha vestal y a otras personas acusándolas de impureza pensó, sin duda alguna, que saldría vencedor… y perdió.
Tras ese fracaso rotundo, Publio Clodio fue abandonado por amigos y familiares, se la pasó de taberna en taberna y recibió el desprecio de Roma. De eso han pasado ya cuatro años y, sintiéndose aburrido de llevar una vida sin propósito alguno, el sujeto opta por emprender viaje al Este con el fin de unirse al personal de su cuñado Lucio Licinio Lúculo. Después de todo, sabe que a Lúculo le gustan las comodidades y, si está a su lado, seguramente logrará disfrutar de estas y se le presentarán nuevas oportunidades.
Desafortunadamente para él, viajar con su queridísimo cuñado será todo menos feliz y cómodo, los acontecimientos futuros no le serán favorables y su lista de gente de la que necesita vengarse está por incluir a personas nada apacibles pronto…
No, el libro no tiene la culpa. Este, si ignoramos la falta de descripciones sangrientas (lo cual no es nada nuevo, en realidad), es interesante y hasta posee partes atrapantes.
Escenas y demás:
*Silano, enterándose del embarazo y de la infidelidad de su esposa: me pregunto qué afectó más al pobre: ¿recibir las noticias por boca de la propia Servilia o ver la compostura y racionalidad con la que esta manejó la situación?
*El intento de veto menos exitoso que he visto: o cómo intentar vetar la lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis, ser derrotado gracias a muchos votos sucesivos y, finalmente, verse obligado a retirar el veto.
*Pompeyo, danto órdenes claras, precisas y completamente incuestionables:
"—No puede ocurrir lo mismo que en Arausio —aseguró gravemente en la tienda de mando, en una reunión con los legados—. Si a uno de vosotros se le ocurre siquiera tirarse un pedo en una dirección que previamente no haya establecido yo en persona como la dirección correcta para tirarse pedos, le cortaré las pelotas y lo enviaré a los mercados de eunucos de Alejandría —dijo; y lo decía en serio—. Mi imperio es maius, y eso significa que puedo hacer lo que me plazca. Desde el primero hasta el último de vosotros recibirá órdenes escritas tan detalladas y completas que ni siquiera tendréis que decidir por vosotros mismos qué cenaréis pasado mañana. Vosotros haréis lo que se os diga. Si alguno no está dispuesto a obedecer, que hable ahora. De lo contrario cantará como una soprano en la corte del rey Ptolomeo. ¿Entendido?"
incuestionables, digo.
*El asesinato de Quinto Servilio Cepión: él parecía ser un tipo agradable y, honestamente, no creo que mereciera morir de ese modo y hacerlo solo, sin la compañía de amigos o familiares; además —y aunque su hermano no me cae nada bien—, el dolor experimentado por Marco Porcio Catón ante tal acontecimiento es un sentimiento que únicamente le desearía a mi peor enemigo.
*El obstáculo formado por rocas con bordes afilados… rocas manchadas de liquen color rojo sangre: lindo. Me asustan. Miedo.
...Dioses en el cielo, ¿por qué eso existe?
*Lo que llamaré, con especial regocijo, "la venganza de los árabes".
*El triunfo de Marco Porcio Catón en la gran guerra del Tesoro: ¿qué dice de mí que no me alegre la victoria de alguien a quien llaman "incorruptible"?
*La incansable (no bromeo: es incansable) lucha de Cicerón contra Catilina que acaba por convertirse en una persecución.
Vamos gente, es innegable que en un determinado momento eso pasa a ser una persecución en toda regla y no podrán convencerme de lo contrario.
Una persecución aparentemente justificada, sí, pero persecución al fin y al cabo.
*El discurso de Catón —el cual parece principalmente dirigido a atacar ferozmente a César— que es interrumpido por la entrega de una nota con contenido… no adecuado para ser discutido en una sesión senatorial, sí.
*César, deteniendo lo que casi se convierte en una revuelta ciudadana fuera de control con el uso magistral del cariño ganado durante años y de un discurso de aproximadamente una hora: cuando los ciudadanos te aman, te aman.
*El día de la votación de la lex Iulia agraria: no tanto por el acto mismo, sino por el ataque que reciben Catón, Bíbulo y sus lictores a manos de la muchedumbre. Ese es un acontecimiento memorable, oh sí.
"En el momento en que a los hombres de la tribu Cornelia se les llamó a votar en primer lugar, los boni atacaron. Con los lictores que portaban las fasces precediéndole, Bíbulo se abrió paso entre la masa de hombres que rodeaban la plataforma acompañado de Catón, Ahenobarbo, Cayo Pisón, Favonio y los cuatro tribunos de la plebe que controlaba, con Metelo Escipión en cabeza. Los lictores se detuvieron al pie de los escalones de la parte de Pólux; Bíbulo se abrió paso entre ellos y se puso en pie en el primer escalón de abajo.
—¡Cayo Julio César, tú no posees las fasces! ¡Esta asamblea queda invalidada porque yo, el cónsul que ostenta el cargo este mes, no he dado mi consentimiento para que se celebre! ¡Disuélvela o haré que te procesen!
Apenas había salido de su boca la última palabra cuando la multitud bramó y arremetió hacia adelante, con demasiada rapidez como para que ninguno de los cuatro tribunos de la plebe pudiera interponer el veto, o quizás voceando tan fuerte que hizo imposible que se oyera veto alguno. Como Bíbulo era un blanco perfecto por el lugar donde se encontraba, recibió una verdadera lluvia de inmundicia, y cuando sus lictores avanzaron para protegerlo, sus sagradas personas fueron sujetadas; magullados y apaleados, tuvieron que contemplar cómo sus fasces eran aplastadas y hechas pedazos por cien pares de brazos desnudos y manos fornidas. Luego esas mismas manos se volvieron para arremeter contra Bíbulo y abofetearlo en vez de darle puñetazos, y Catón recibió el mismo tratamiento, mientras que el resto se batió en retirada. Después de lo cual alguien vació un enorme cesto de inmundicia sobre la cabeza de Bíbulo, aunque guardó un poco para Catón. Mientras la muchedumbre aullaba de risa, Bíbulo, Catón y los lictores se retiraron."
"¡El Senado no es nada! ¡Los boni no son nada! ¡Pompeyo Magnus no es nada! ¡Yo voy a llegar tan lejos como tenga que llegar para convertirme en el Primer Hombre de Roma durante el resto de mi vida! ¡Y después de mi muerte, seré considerado el romano más grande que jamás haya existido! ¡Nada ni nadie me detendrá! ¡Lo juro por todos mis antepasados, hasta la diosa Venus!"
Tras concluir con sus deberes como cuestor, Cayo Julio César vuelve a Roma completamente dispuesto a promover cambios que cree tremendamente necesarios; sin embargo, es muy consciente de que para alcanzar sus objetivos deberá quedarse durante un largo periodo en la ciudad ganando poder, influencia, clientes y haciendo propaganda. Permanecer en un lugar durante años, sabe, es el sacrificio que ha de hacer si quiere llegar a ejercer un cargo de mando militar y, desde ahí, convertirse no solo en el líder de su propio grupo, sino también en el "Primer Hombre de Roma"… y ese título será suyo, vaya que sí. Lo será, y nada ni nadie le impedirá obtenerlo. Después de todo, él posee antepasados lo suficientemente ilustres como para que dicho nombramiento sea prácticamente algo que le pertenece por derecho y, por eso, César está decidido a dominar a quienes no son sus iguales.
Desafortunadamente para él, no faltarán quienes intenten provocar su caída en desgracia valiéndose de cualquier medio disponible… y desafortunadamente para sus enemigos venideros, César es vengativo, astuto e inteligente… y el tiempo irá volviéndolo despiadado…
Servilia podrá ser la esposa de Décimo Junio Silano, pero también es una mujer inteligente y quien se encarga de sus propios asuntos, a pesar de la ley y de su mismísimo marido… y uno de esos "asuntos" es Marco Junio Bruto, hijo que tuviera en su matrimonio anterior. Así, es ella la que organiza una reunión con Cayo Julio César con el fin de discutir las intenciones que Bruto tiene hacia la hija de este; no obstante y después del segundo encuentro que ambos tienen a solas, esa deja de ser —rápidamente. muy, muy rápidamente— la única razón que la motiva a acercarse al hombre.
Lamentablemente para ella, su aventura extramatrimonial le traerá —además de sensaciones nuevas y desconocidas— dificultades imprevistas y no pocas decepciones… porque amar a Cayo Julio César no está destinado a ser fácil y sencillo…
Esto es algo innegable: Cneo Pompeyo Magnus odia al Senado. Ellos no le enviaron ni los suficientes recursos económicos ni los refuerzos necesarios cuando estuvo en Hispania. Para vengarse, los obligó —con la ayuda de otros dos aliados y de los ejércitos tanto de Marco Craso como suyo— a permitirle presentarse como candidato a cónsul aun sin haber sido senador previamente… y obtuvo el puesto. Se convirtió en cónsul senior, de hecho… y, tras un exitoso año en el cargo, eligió retirarse a la vida privada.
Ahora, Pompeyo desea volver al ojo público… y tiene aliados y planes. Planes como, por ejemplo, obtener otros mandos militares especiales para luchar contra los piratas y contra los reyes Mitrídates y Tigranes…
Aunque Marco Porcio Catón nunca haya dejado de ser extremadamente conservador y un fiel seguidor de los valores impuestos y practicados por Catón el Censor —su prominente bisabuelo—, su hermano jamás, jamás, lo abandonó, no. Quinto Servilio Cepión fue, para el hombre duro y estoico, su roca, su lugar seguro y aquel a quien se permitió amar sin límites… y, entonces, lo perdió de forma repentina… y algo en Catón comenzó a extinguirse, a desaparecer.
Regresar a Roma solo para enterarse de que su esposa le era infiel con el detestable aristócrata Cayo Julio César solamente convirtió la desaparición de ese "algo" en una cosa definitiva e irrevocable y transformó a Catón en alguien más duro e inflexible de lo que ya era… y, desgraciadamente para ciertos romanos que acabarán convirtiéndose en adversarios suyos, el cambio experimentado por él les afectará personalmente…
Al haber sido consentido por sus hermanos mayores mientras crecía, Publio Clodio empezó a acostumbrarse a siempre, siempre, salirse con la suya en todo. Por eso, cuando puso los ojos en una virgen vestal creyó, con total seguridad, que podría conquistarla fácilmente… y falló y por eso, cuando trató de llevar a juicio a dicha vestal y a otras personas acusándolas de impureza pensó, sin duda alguna, que saldría vencedor… y perdió.
Tras ese fracaso rotundo, Publio Clodio fue abandonado por amigos y familiares, se la pasó de taberna en taberna y recibió el desprecio de Roma. De eso han pasado ya cuatro años y, sintiéndose aburrido de llevar una vida sin propósito alguno, el sujeto opta por emprender viaje al Este con el fin de unirse al personal de su cuñado Lucio Licinio Lúculo. Después de todo, sabe que a Lúculo le gustan las comodidades y, si está a su lado, seguramente logrará disfrutar de estas y se le presentarán nuevas oportunidades.
Desafortunadamente para él, viajar con su queridísimo cuñado será todo menos feliz y cómodo, los acontecimientos futuros no le serán favorables y su lista de gente de la que necesita vengarse está por incluir a personas nada apacibles pronto…
February 10, 2011
I really wish they could have found a better title for this book, it smacks of soft porn and ripped bodices, but that being said, mcculllough is at her usual suberb best, bringing ancient history to life and giving you a feeling of having been there with them. granted. caesar was surrounded by women. his incredible strong mother aurelia, three wives, one died in childbirth leaving him a daughter, one whom he divorced, and then his last. he also was a notorious womanizer, who took great pleasure in cockolding his political enemies, and had a particularly nasty mistress. that being said, they had no impact on his life unless they happened to work to his political advantage in some way. he preferred the warfields to rome, and was happiest when he was adding to romes empire or setting sensible systems in place so that empire would run more efficiently. we also learn more about both cicero and cato's lives, which is really interesting, and brought to life with colorful prose. caesar spent his time in rome doing what he had to do to go through the steps necessary to advance in the senate, so that he could then go back into the field. this book leaves us at the end of his consulship, when he is about to leave for the governorship of nearer gaul, that is northern italy, to hopefully make his next fortune. great and accurate historical fiction.
April 7, 2018
Fourth in the “Masters of Rome” series, this book has two main themes:
The first is the rise of Caesar, which McCullough portrays (as the title advertises) from the point of view of the women in his life: particularly his influential and independent mother Aurelia (the one person Sulla regarded as an equal); his torrid affair with the ruthless Servilla (half-sister of Cato and mother of Brutus); his devotion to his daughter Julia, initially betrothed to Brutus but then married to Pompey in a love and political match, as well as the Vestal Virgins for whom he takes responsibility after being elected Pontifex Maximus. Interestingly Caesar’s two wives during this period are barely mentioned except in terms of the divorce of the first (following Clodius’s gatecrashing of a female religious ceremony at Caesar’s house meaning she was no longer “above suspicion”) and the marriage of the second (purely for expedient political purposes on behalf of the Triumvirate). We also get an excellent perspective on his money issues and his desperate attempts to continually stave off his creditors (and possible Senate disqualification), which he achieves by his religious appointment, his Praetorship in Spain and then at the end of the story by attempting to secure Gaul as a pro-consular Province.
The second is the growing battle between the conservative faction in the Senate – personified by the traditionalist, sanctimonious Cato – who aim to maintain the republican status quo, and the three “tall poppies” Pompey (hugely rich, possessed of an enormous army but unable to gain the acceptance and approval of the Roman Patricians), Crassus (the business man and ex-soldier) and Caesar (with Sulla’s drive, Marius’s popularity and with an unimpeachable pedigree – who Cato in particular sees only lacks an army to be an even greater danger than Sulla).
There are two key consular years: that of Cicero when faced with what he sees as a huge conspiracy involving Cataline (and later portrays as one of the greatest ever threats to the history of Rome) invokes emergency powers and orders the immediate execution without trial of a number of the key conspirators; that of Caesar which he runs more as a legislating, populist Tribune of the Plebs than a traditional patrician, despite the attempts of the conservative faction to stop him (including the attempts of his fellow Consul and enemy since he first served in the army Bibulus to declare the whole consul year invalid due to inauspicious omens) with the balance being shifted by the agreement reached before the year-end and broked by Caesar for he, Pompey and Crassus to form an expedient Triumvirate. The author’s clear bias towards the Great Men rather than the conservative faction comes out more clearly in this book of the series – with the implicit and sometimes explicit assumption that their conservatism is due to their being weaker than the Great Men.
Another excellent book in this series.
The first is the rise of Caesar, which McCullough portrays (as the title advertises) from the point of view of the women in his life: particularly his influential and independent mother Aurelia (the one person Sulla regarded as an equal); his torrid affair with the ruthless Servilla (half-sister of Cato and mother of Brutus); his devotion to his daughter Julia, initially betrothed to Brutus but then married to Pompey in a love and political match, as well as the Vestal Virgins for whom he takes responsibility after being elected Pontifex Maximus. Interestingly Caesar’s two wives during this period are barely mentioned except in terms of the divorce of the first (following Clodius’s gatecrashing of a female religious ceremony at Caesar’s house meaning she was no longer “above suspicion”) and the marriage of the second (purely for expedient political purposes on behalf of the Triumvirate). We also get an excellent perspective on his money issues and his desperate attempts to continually stave off his creditors (and possible Senate disqualification), which he achieves by his religious appointment, his Praetorship in Spain and then at the end of the story by attempting to secure Gaul as a pro-consular Province.
The second is the growing battle between the conservative faction in the Senate – personified by the traditionalist, sanctimonious Cato – who aim to maintain the republican status quo, and the three “tall poppies” Pompey (hugely rich, possessed of an enormous army but unable to gain the acceptance and approval of the Roman Patricians), Crassus (the business man and ex-soldier) and Caesar (with Sulla’s drive, Marius’s popularity and with an unimpeachable pedigree – who Cato in particular sees only lacks an army to be an even greater danger than Sulla).
There are two key consular years: that of Cicero when faced with what he sees as a huge conspiracy involving Cataline (and later portrays as one of the greatest ever threats to the history of Rome) invokes emergency powers and orders the immediate execution without trial of a number of the key conspirators; that of Caesar which he runs more as a legislating, populist Tribune of the Plebs than a traditional patrician, despite the attempts of the conservative faction to stop him (including the attempts of his fellow Consul and enemy since he first served in the army Bibulus to declare the whole consul year invalid due to inauspicious omens) with the balance being shifted by the agreement reached before the year-end and broked by Caesar for he, Pompey and Crassus to form an expedient Triumvirate. The author’s clear bias towards the Great Men rather than the conservative faction comes out more clearly in this book of the series – with the implicit and sometimes explicit assumption that their conservatism is due to their being weaker than the Great Men.
Another excellent book in this series.
February 2, 2008
The title may make this book sound like a romance novel of the Roman Empire, but it's well beyond any such thing (though does include a few rather well scripted sex scenes involving good ol' Caesar). Written with a savant-like skill for detail and period-appropriate descriptions and backed up with impeccable research, "Caesar's Women" is the story fo the rise of Julius Caesar and the women who are a part of his life as his star brightens. Although the book sometimes lacked readability due to its dense recounts of Senate verdicts or the sparring of the various Catoes and Luciuses, overall it transported me to a place that fascinates me and gave me a thorough and believable image of a man who does the same. McCullough could do with some more flower in her writing- more adjectives and less antiquated terms- but I'd take her books over pretty, fluffy ones any day.
November 28, 2015
Can you call this series a modern classic? Well, I just did, so there it is. After abandoning it as awful at the time of publication, I remain spellbound at this 4th book of the eventual 7. The style is odd and sometimes clunky - but I don't care! I never thought I could be so hooked on the story of Rome, which was never a favourite historical period of mine. I am also consistently awed by the breadth of CM's mind and obvious brainpower as she hooks it all together. An astonishing achievement. I keep going off to check facts and dates and haven't caught her in any major dilemma yet.....
May 21, 2021
This is a good book, but probably my least favorite in the series (so far). It covers Caesar's early political career, before he went to Gaul and became the Dictator we know and love today. Indeed, it has a bit less military excitement, but plenty of political intrigue to make up for it. So what were my objections?
1. Caesar, the main character, is too perfect. Somehow, this power-hungry demagogue, who was (probably) a part of the major conspiracies of the period that tried to overthrow the Roman state, is portrayed as a good guy. I'm at best an armchair historian, but it takes a very motivated look at the history to cast Caesar in a good light.
In this "Caesar's Women" suffers in comparison to it's immediate predecessor: In "Fortune's Favorites", we see the rise and fall of Sulla, so far the greatest(?) Roman to have lived. We see the good and bad in him (mostly bad), his plotting, his mistakes, and his genuine attempts to repair the Roman state. Finally, we get to watch it all be torn down by another upstart, Pompey. It's a compelling story filled with many flawed characters. In this book, in the same number of pages, we see just a narrow slice of Caesar's career, and Caesar does nothing but win. It almost feels like Colleen is writing fan-fiction.
I hope the next book allows Caesar to fail a bit more. The Gallic and Civil wars are so interesting because Caesar was frequently challenged, made and recovered from mistakes, and pulled himself through with a combination of luck and skill. The portrayal of a "Golden Boy Striding Confidently Through History, Towards His Destiny" detracts from the drama, rather than adds.
2. Cicero is portrayed as a bit of a fool. It seems a shame to cast Rome's greatest statesman in this light, but history seems to be a bit of a zero sum game, so where Caesar wins Cicero looses.
In Colleen's defense, she dedicates a good deal of the Author's note at the end to defending her choice for both characterizations: Read it! These notes, plus the appendices, are some of the best part of these series. Briefly, her argument is while modern historians tend to lionize Cicero, most contemporary sources did not hold him in such regard. Similarly, the sources on Caesar for these years of Roman History are probably colored by by his later seizure of power, so his participation in the Catiline conspiracy might be more conjecture than fact.
Recommendations: For a different (more heroic) take on Cicero and the events of the late Roman republic, I recommend the series starting with Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome. There are plenty of biographies of all of these figures, those by Anthony Everitt are my favorite.
1. Caesar, the main character, is too perfect. Somehow, this power-hungry demagogue, who was (probably) a part of the major conspiracies of the period that tried to overthrow the Roman state, is portrayed as a good guy. I'm at best an armchair historian, but it takes a very motivated look at the history to cast Caesar in a good light.
In this "Caesar's Women" suffers in comparison to it's immediate predecessor: In "Fortune's Favorites", we see the rise and fall of Sulla, so far the greatest(?) Roman to have lived. We see the good and bad in him (mostly bad), his plotting, his mistakes, and his genuine attempts to repair the Roman state. Finally, we get to watch it all be torn down by another upstart, Pompey. It's a compelling story filled with many flawed characters. In this book, in the same number of pages, we see just a narrow slice of Caesar's career, and Caesar does nothing but win. It almost feels like Colleen is writing fan-fiction.
I hope the next book allows Caesar to fail a bit more. The Gallic and Civil wars are so interesting because Caesar was frequently challenged, made and recovered from mistakes, and pulled himself through with a combination of luck and skill. The portrayal of a "Golden Boy Striding Confidently Through History, Towards His Destiny" detracts from the drama, rather than adds.
2. Cicero is portrayed as a bit of a fool. It seems a shame to cast Rome's greatest statesman in this light, but history seems to be a bit of a zero sum game, so where Caesar wins Cicero looses.
In Colleen's defense, she dedicates a good deal of the Author's note at the end to defending her choice for both characterizations: Read it! These notes, plus the appendices, are some of the best part of these series. Briefly, her argument is while modern historians tend to lionize Cicero, most contemporary sources did not hold him in such regard. Similarly, the sources on Caesar for these years of Roman History are probably colored by by his later seizure of power, so his participation in the Catiline conspiracy might be more conjecture than fact.
Recommendations: For a different (more heroic) take on Cicero and the events of the late Roman republic, I recommend the series starting with Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome. There are plenty of biographies of all of these figures, those by Anthony Everitt are my favorite.
Read
May 8, 2023This 1996 novelization of Caesar’s political career in Rome spans a ten year period from 68 to 58 B.C., during which he made significant strides in amassing power within the oligarchical rule of the Senate which existed during the waning years of the Republic. When people think of Caesar, they think of his assassination first, then of his military triumphs and then only pay scant regard to his career as a politician, navigating the curious ins and outs of the Senate, the Consulship, the curule aedileship, the formation of the first triumvirate and his election as Pontifex Maximus. What they totally ignore is his subtle work as a social reformer, who wished to settle the glaring inequities of wealth distribution, land ownership and the provision of Roman citizenship. Even McCullough’s broadly sympathetic retelling of the story of these years largely fails in this regard.
She does spend a lot of time on his two wives, Pompeia and Calpurnia, the political strategy behind his marrying his daughter Julia to Pompey and his long-standing affair with Servilia. Admittedly, these political/romantic affairs are relatively more engaging than the thorny issues of breaking of the power of the oligarchs over land and government, but Michael Parenti’s The Assassination of Julius Caesar really changed my way of looking at this most interesting (except for maybe Sulla and Marius) of all Roman historical figures.
As always, written in a very flowing style which is as engaging in narrative as it is easy to read. McCullough certainly did her homework and showed her facility as a writer in all seven of her novels in this series.
Highly recommended.
She does spend a lot of time on his two wives, Pompeia and Calpurnia, the political strategy behind his marrying his daughter Julia to Pompey and his long-standing affair with Servilia. Admittedly, these political/romantic affairs are relatively more engaging than the thorny issues of breaking of the power of the oligarchs over land and government, but Michael Parenti’s The Assassination of Julius Caesar really changed my way of looking at this most interesting (except for maybe Sulla and Marius) of all Roman historical figures.
As always, written in a very flowing style which is as engaging in narrative as it is easy to read. McCullough certainly did her homework and showed her facility as a writer in all seven of her novels in this series.
Highly recommended.
September 6, 2016
My favorite of the Masters of Rome series. I really like the portrayal of domestic life and the politics in Rome. Caesar is portrayed as nearly perfect, and although I admire him a lot, it's a bit hard to believe he was this flawless. The various women of the title are quite interesting. We've met his mother Aurelia in the previous books in the series and get to know her a little better. She appears to be the one person he confides in, not really having any male friends of his own class. We also get to watch his daughter Julia grow up and become politically useful to him. Once he's elected Pontifex Maximus, he has the six Vestal Virgins to watch over, and does a really good job of it. Finally, there's his mistress Servilia, Cato the Younger's half-sister, whom he doesn't really love, but can't seem to give up. The book ends with his leaving Rome for his extended campaigns in Gaul.
April 14, 2008
I could barely stomach what little I read of this book. I was very excited, because I found this one right as I was discovering historical fiction for the first time. I was sorely let down. Repeated references to various women as "juicy" was so low-brow, I felt like I was reading a trashy romance novel. I kept the book around, thinking I might pick it back up, but after several years I just got rid of it. Why waste time when there are so many quality tomes out there?
Read
January 6, 2025Quarto appuntamento di questa saga che diventa sempre più sfacciatamente Cesarecentrica. L'autrice difatti nutre una preferenza sfacciata per Cesare, presentandolo come una sorta di semidio (come crede lui stesso di essere) con il mondo ai suoi piedi, specie quello femminile. Le varie conquiste di questo "amante di Roma" fanno sì che la lettura diventi molto più leggera e scorrevole rispetto alle precedenti, ma ogni tanto possono leggermente irritare o far roteare gli occhi. Non mi piace per nulla il personaggio di Servilia e in generale i personaggi svaniscono dinanzi a Cesare, a parte un paio di siparietti tra il comico e l'assurdo di Clodio che, in questa epopea quasi mitologica, non hanno guastato.
A dirla tutta, nel terzo avevo simpatia per Cesare, ora non proprio. Effettivamente, tutti i personaggi della McCullough, prima o poi, finiscono per guastarsi ed essere inghiottiti da Roma. Un quadro spietato e realistico, anche se da un lato mi sarebbe piaciuto empatizzare di più con qualche personaggio.
Rimane un ottimo romanzo storico di una bellissima serie.
A dirla tutta, nel terzo avevo simpatia per Cesare, ora non proprio. Effettivamente, tutti i personaggi della McCullough, prima o poi, finiscono per guastarsi ed essere inghiottiti da Roma. Un quadro spietato e realistico, anche se da un lato mi sarebbe piaciuto empatizzare di più con qualche personaggio.
Rimane un ottimo romanzo storico di una bellissima serie.
December 24, 2013
-Con todos ustedes…¡el preferido de McCullough!.-
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Pompeyo es el primer hombre de Roma en este momento pero su carácter ha evolucionado y ahora se siente por encima del Senado merced a su gran visión de sí mismo y de su alianza política con el exitoso Craso y el fascinante Cayo Julio César, un joven este último que demuestra toda clase de recursos en su camino, lento pero inexorablemente seguro a pesar de los obstáculos, hacia la cima. Cuarto volumen de la serie Señores de Roma.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers?
Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Pompeyo es el primer hombre de Roma en este momento pero su carácter ha evolucionado y ahora se siente por encima del Senado merced a su gran visión de sí mismo y de su alianza política con el exitoso Craso y el fascinante Cayo Julio César, un joven este último que demuestra toda clase de recursos en su camino, lento pero inexorablemente seguro a pesar de los obstáculos, hacia la cima. Cuarto volumen de la serie Señores de Roma.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers?
Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
January 27, 2025
Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome, #4) is just as good as the first three book in this series.
Colleen invites us to unravel its intricacies layer by layer. It challenges us to confront the history within the story, suggesting that those who venture into this world may emerge with a changed perspective.
Colleen invites us to unravel its intricacies layer by layer. It challenges us to confront the history within the story, suggesting that those who venture into this world may emerge with a changed perspective.
January 4, 2023
"I am going to go as far as I have to go to become the First Man in Rome for as long as I live! And after I die, I will be called the greatest Roman who ever lived!"
I am not sure if I am a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff. I am only vaguely Team Jacob. But I have absolute, utterly unshakeable, faith that you will not read a better series than the Masters of Rome:
Cicero, however, had the last word. "Incest," he said gravely to a large crowd of Forum frequenters, "is a game the whole family can play."
I stand by it.
So what the fourth book in Masters of Rome about? Colleen McCullough’s love for one Gaius Julius Caesar.
"Because he's too tall, too handsome, too successful with the women, and too arrogant by far"
Caesar is going to make it to the top of Roman politics while hiding a pilum under his toga. He needs money, he needs allies, and he needs to humiliate his opposition, whether by insults:
"You wouldn't be able to see over the heads of your military escort, though I suppose you could draft dwarves."
or by sleeping with their wives. Anyway, McCullough makes it very clear that Caesar’s great, finding ways for him to escape opponents, creditors and dead bedrooms:
“I’d rather masturbate!” he said savagely.
…and it drives the book up to the end of Caesar’s first consulship, but Caesar not why I love this book. Instead, what I love are the other characters, each so massively, irremediably, humanly flawed. As the merest, tiniest, piddliest sampling, you have Publius Clodius, the miscreant who’s 50 pages of introductory characterisation is the absolute heart and soul of this book, claiming (among other things) he committed incest with both his sisters in order to own his brother-in-law:
"Clodilla deems you a poor substitute for her little brother."
…only to later lose control of the narrative:
"Clodia? She wouldn't give me an inch!"
Cicero giggled. "Well, why should she give you an inch when I hear that you give her six of your inches regularly?"
Or Cicero, the “New Man” derided as the bumpkin, the mushroom, or the timid soul, completely unlike his contemporary reputation. Known to us for his speeches, instead he will repeatedly giggle or let out an inarticulate bleat. A man of principles to history, here is he an incurable vacillitator. Desperate to do something memorable in his year of consulship, he sniffs out (incites?) a shadowy conspiracy, only to be damned for it and forced into exile by book’s end:
"On the slenderest of pretexts, you have virtually impeached him."
Or Servila. Haughtiest of patricians; lover of Caesar; mother of a future assassin; crucifer of slaves; sampler of her half-brother’s flesh; and, according to Caesar, possessor of a delightfully hairy back.
There are other female characters, and all seem to be in the thrall of Caesar, but Servila is easily the most fully developed. Boredom directs her towards poisoning her full brother to ensure her own son inherits the “Gold of Tolosa”. Impetuosity leads her to writing a love letter that will risk Caesar's career. Domination of her son will doom him to be a “dense sheep” and a “dull dog”. Unsurprisingly, she has her detractors, including Caesar:
Cold and hard as a slab of marble.
Is she portrayed in a cliched and even misogynistic way, overemotional and easily brought back under Caesar’s sway? Perhaps. But she does a lot in the story, and she has her victories of sorts. Existing in a time period not overly ripe for deep female characterisation, she is unlikable, but we know why she does things, and she does things, rather than sit there as an object to conquer or save.
The critical thing is that the above (and more, so many more) drive the plot of Caesar’s Women. It bursts at the seams with payoffs that are inextricably linked to the actions of the characters rather than unknowable and offscreen entities. Grudges revealed in the first 100 pages will drive decisions made 700 later. Witness Clodius’ revenge on Ptolemy the Cyprian by seizing “the Cyprian” part of his title. All over the latter shafting Clodius on a 2 talent ransom. And, Caesar’s most precious woman, his admittedly underwritten daughter Julia, provides the key to ensuring a key alliance:
He ventured a question about what she did with her days (who cared about her days-what did she do with her nights when the moon rode high and her chariot took her to the stars?)
There are no other hills to be conquered, no other ditches to be leapt, no other books to be read. When I die, build a pyre and fuel the flames with the books from this series so that I may ride to literary Valhalla where Colleen McCullough awaits.
I am not sure if I am a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff. I am only vaguely Team Jacob. But I have absolute, utterly unshakeable, faith that you will not read a better series than the Masters of Rome:
Cicero, however, had the last word. "Incest," he said gravely to a large crowd of Forum frequenters, "is a game the whole family can play."
I stand by it.
So what the fourth book in Masters of Rome about? Colleen McCullough’s love for one Gaius Julius Caesar.
"Because he's too tall, too handsome, too successful with the women, and too arrogant by far"
Caesar is going to make it to the top of Roman politics while hiding a pilum under his toga. He needs money, he needs allies, and he needs to humiliate his opposition, whether by insults:
"You wouldn't be able to see over the heads of your military escort, though I suppose you could draft dwarves."
or by sleeping with their wives. Anyway, McCullough makes it very clear that Caesar’s great, finding ways for him to escape opponents, creditors and dead bedrooms:
“I’d rather masturbate!” he said savagely.
…and it drives the book up to the end of Caesar’s first consulship, but Caesar not why I love this book. Instead, what I love are the other characters, each so massively, irremediably, humanly flawed. As the merest, tiniest, piddliest sampling, you have Publius Clodius, the miscreant who’s 50 pages of introductory characterisation is the absolute heart and soul of this book, claiming (among other things) he committed incest with both his sisters in order to own his brother-in-law:
"Clodilla deems you a poor substitute for her little brother."
…only to later lose control of the narrative:
"Clodia? She wouldn't give me an inch!"
Cicero giggled. "Well, why should she give you an inch when I hear that you give her six of your inches regularly?"
Or Cicero, the “New Man” derided as the bumpkin, the mushroom, or the timid soul, completely unlike his contemporary reputation. Known to us for his speeches, instead he will repeatedly giggle or let out an inarticulate bleat. A man of principles to history, here is he an incurable vacillitator. Desperate to do something memorable in his year of consulship, he sniffs out (incites?) a shadowy conspiracy, only to be damned for it and forced into exile by book’s end:
"On the slenderest of pretexts, you have virtually impeached him."
Or Servila. Haughtiest of patricians; lover of Caesar; mother of a future assassin; crucifer of slaves; sampler of her half-brother’s flesh; and, according to Caesar, possessor of a delightfully hairy back.
There are other female characters, and all seem to be in the thrall of Caesar, but Servila is easily the most fully developed. Boredom directs her towards poisoning her full brother to ensure her own son inherits the “Gold of Tolosa”. Impetuosity leads her to writing a love letter that will risk Caesar's career. Domination of her son will doom him to be a “dense sheep” and a “dull dog”. Unsurprisingly, she has her detractors, including Caesar:
Cold and hard as a slab of marble.
Is she portrayed in a cliched and even misogynistic way, overemotional and easily brought back under Caesar’s sway? Perhaps. But she does a lot in the story, and she has her victories of sorts. Existing in a time period not overly ripe for deep female characterisation, she is unlikable, but we know why she does things, and she does things, rather than sit there as an object to conquer or save.
The critical thing is that the above (and more, so many more) drive the plot of Caesar’s Women. It bursts at the seams with payoffs that are inextricably linked to the actions of the characters rather than unknowable and offscreen entities. Grudges revealed in the first 100 pages will drive decisions made 700 later. Witness Clodius’ revenge on Ptolemy the Cyprian by seizing “the Cyprian” part of his title. All over the latter shafting Clodius on a 2 talent ransom. And, Caesar’s most precious woman, his admittedly underwritten daughter Julia, provides the key to ensuring a key alliance:
He ventured a question about what she did with her days (who cared about her days-what did she do with her nights when the moon rode high and her chariot took her to the stars?)
There are no other hills to be conquered, no other ditches to be leapt, no other books to be read. When I die, build a pyre and fuel the flames with the books from this series so that I may ride to literary Valhalla where Colleen McCullough awaits.
October 9, 2011
It's my first book by this author. I only knew the "Masters of Rome" series was pretty famous, so I was excited to find this one for only 150¥. I can't say it was such a great read, though. The author had done her research, all the political and religious machinations and liaisons are explained at length, there are maps, plans, even portraits (a lol factor, definitely), there is a lot of detail (actually info overload), but... The characters (especially women) had a very modern feel to me, and all the motivations and inner thoughts were always so clearly described as to leave absolutely no space for any mystery or doubt.
It was as if I were watching one of these ridiculous movies which are set in ancient times, but in which all the columns and floors are dazzlingly white, and there is plenty of light everywhere. No suspense, no feeling that these people were living and thinking in a different way. Also, no real character development (maybe except Clodius), and good guys (Caesar & his friends & family) always good and successful, others always bad. Hmm. But the intrigues got and held my attention, so I read to the end, hence 2 stars. The best part was about the Bona Dea scandal, I loved it, so one more star.
But I don't think I'd like to read more of this particular author. She has a very simple and at the same time heavy style, and loves info dumps. And everything is about all those rich and influential people, which is boring to me. So I don't know. Maybe if I find another book from this series really cheap?
It was as if I were watching one of these ridiculous movies which are set in ancient times, but in which all the columns and floors are dazzlingly white, and there is plenty of light everywhere. No suspense, no feeling that these people were living and thinking in a different way. Also, no real character development (maybe except Clodius), and good guys (Caesar & his friends & family) always good and successful, others always bad. Hmm. But the intrigues got and held my attention, so I read to the end, hence 2 stars. The best part was about the Bona Dea scandal, I loved it, so one more star.
But I don't think I'd like to read more of this particular author. She has a very simple and at the same time heavy style, and loves info dumps. And everything is about all those rich and influential people, which is boring to me. So I don't know. Maybe if I find another book from this series really cheap?
June 9, 2016
The 4th of McCullough's magisterial 'Master of Rome' series, this for me is the best. She reconstructs Caesar's early career from his return from Spain after the death of his first wife, till he leaves for Gaul.
Because this is an era which is both little known and yet relatively well-documented, McCullough does an excellent job of sticking to the sources without ever sacrificing imagination and drama. Here she gets to grips not just with life in the Senate amongst the men, but also in the houses of Rome amongst the women: Caesar's formidable mother Aurelia, his lovely and adoring daughter Julia and his spiteful mistress Servilia.
Detailed, fascinating, slightly romaticised and yet compelling this is completely unputdownable.
Because this is an era which is both little known and yet relatively well-documented, McCullough does an excellent job of sticking to the sources without ever sacrificing imagination and drama. Here she gets to grips not just with life in the Senate amongst the men, but also in the houses of Rome amongst the women: Caesar's formidable mother Aurelia, his lovely and adoring daughter Julia and his spiteful mistress Servilia.
Detailed, fascinating, slightly romaticised and yet compelling this is completely unputdownable.
October 23, 2023
Whenever I start a book in this series, I'm a bit intimidated by its size, as they're not the type that have lots of pages, but a large font; rather, they have quite densely packed pages of very small letters. Then I begin, and am once again drawn into this ancient Roman world, which is rendered in such detail that I'm never less than astonished.
So many characters, events, locations. Nothing is neglected or glossed over. In many books about subjects like this, it just goes from one momentous event to another, but here we have mundane conversation, and other small, seemingly insignificant details, which bring it to life, and make it feel like you're there. Her knack for summing up someone's personality in a sentence or two is wonderful.
So many characters, events, locations. Nothing is neglected or glossed over. In many books about subjects like this, it just goes from one momentous event to another, but here we have mundane conversation, and other small, seemingly insignificant details, which bring it to life, and make it feel like you're there. Her knack for summing up someone's personality in a sentence or two is wonderful.
June 2, 2025
This series just keeps getting better.
(not smut)
(not smut)
May 10, 2021
I have a soft spot for Roman fiction, more specifically McCullough's meticulous Roman fiction. (Did you know she use to be a neurosurgeon, before she became a writer?) This novel may not have been as exciting as the previous books, but I still enjoyed it. I enjoy novels that give a voice to minority characters who fill in the background details that the storytellers of the time deemed unimportant.
I feel like maybe there was more "setting up" in this novel of the antagonism between the boni and Caesar. There was definitely lots of hinting and foreshadowing of the fact that Caesar would do anything to protect his dignitas and to show that there's a wildness to his anger when provoked. Also, the development of Cicero was not what I expected. I was intrigued by the author's explanation in the back that, although well thought of today, many of Cicero's contemporaries didn't really like him. I also enjoyed reading about the Vestals and their part in keeping the Wills of the Romans. I didn't know about that.
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
I feel like maybe there was more "setting up" in this novel of the antagonism between the boni and Caesar. There was definitely lots of hinting and foreshadowing of the fact that Caesar would do anything to protect his dignitas and to show that there's a wildness to his anger when provoked. Also, the development of Cicero was not what I expected. I was intrigued by the author's explanation in the back that, although well thought of today, many of Cicero's contemporaries didn't really like him. I also enjoyed reading about the Vestals and their part in keeping the Wills of the Romans. I didn't know about that.
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
February 9, 2022
Not my favorite of the series so far, but still a masterpiece. By the way, the name of the book doesn’t give it justice and if you���re looking for a romance novel, this isn’t it. I was surprised at how negatively Cicero was portrayed (this is explored further in the author’s note – McCullough always has good reason for everything she does). However, it was a nice change of pace to have less battle scenes and more of a focus on everyday lives, intertwined with tons of political intrigue of course. I didn’t know that Caesar’s daughter was (possibly) betrothed to Brutus as a child before marrying Pompey? Anyway, it was an adventure as is always the case with this series, and there was some good foreshadowing of what’s to come.
November 17, 2016
So much more interesting than the latest European and American elections. You see very clearly in this novel how our justice and political institutions, made by white men for white men in the 18th and 19th centuries, were based on the Greek and Roman justice and political systems, also made by white men for white men.
February 7, 2020
Fabulosa recreación del final de la República romana.
No tan brillante como el magristal 1o de la saga, tampoco como el muy buen 2o, pero por encima del 3o de la saga.
Maniobras, maquinaciones, trampas y crónica rosa.
Lo que debía ser la política romana de la época.
Muy bien escrito y mejor documentado.
No tan brillante como el magristal 1o de la saga, tampoco como el muy buen 2o, pero por encima del 3o de la saga.
Maniobras, maquinaciones, trampas y crónica rosa.
Lo que debía ser la política romana de la época.
Muy bien escrito y mejor documentado.
November 3, 2011
Caesar's Women is not, as the cover and title might suggest, a romance novel disguised as historical fiction, but an accurate and meticulously researched portrayal of Ancient Rome. Filled with plenty of political upheaval, such as the witnessing of Caesar emasculating his enemies, the Optimates and Cicero being reduced to a whimpering fool. This novelization of history is more factual than most, as it presents historical events in its entirety. Caesar and his political strategies are brutal and heartless, but that is so often the truth when it comes to all-powerful men.
The novel also presents voice to the women behind Caesar. Feminists might find the role women play in the novel misogynistic, as they are often thrust around as political weapons rather than human beings. Again, women being treated as mere objects was often the sad reality of being a woman in Ancient Rome. Women were divorced and re-married for the sake of familial alliances and advancing the family name.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, albeit some parts being a little long-winded and overly detailed. I suppose describing every minute event and political battle that took place in Ancient Rome can have its merits and its pitfalls. However, it remains an interesting piece of historical fiction that I will probably re-read in the near future.
The novel also presents voice to the women behind Caesar. Feminists might find the role women play in the novel misogynistic, as they are often thrust around as political weapons rather than human beings. Again, women being treated as mere objects was often the sad reality of being a woman in Ancient Rome. Women were divorced and re-married for the sake of familial alliances and advancing the family name.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, albeit some parts being a little long-winded and overly detailed. I suppose describing every minute event and political battle that took place in Ancient Rome can have its merits and its pitfalls. However, it remains an interesting piece of historical fiction that I will probably re-read in the near future.
March 11, 2024
*re-read review: simply, see below*
And that's it for the series. Dealing with a decade of Caesar's political machinations in Rome, this is a cross between the political wonkery of The West Wing and the rough and tumble of House Of Cards. Only Colleen McCullough could make the Roman Forum so spellbinding as she writes exchanges such as:
Cato: "The morals of Rome are so depraved I resist everyday the urge to go home and hang myself."
Crassus: "Go Cato! Resist no longer!"
After this, the series becomes predictable (Caesar conquers Gaul but not the Ides Of March, and the Republic tumbles into disorder) and finally, almost unreadable (Mark Antony and Cleopatra). Because I'm just not that interested in Egypt.
But as historical fiction goes, the first four in this series are, I think, unsurpassable.
And that's it for the series. Dealing with a decade of Caesar's political machinations in Rome, this is a cross between the political wonkery of The West Wing and the rough and tumble of House Of Cards. Only Colleen McCullough could make the Roman Forum so spellbinding as she writes exchanges such as:
Cato: "The morals of Rome are so depraved I resist everyday the urge to go home and hang myself."
Crassus: "Go Cato! Resist no longer!"
After this, the series becomes predictable (Caesar conquers Gaul but not the Ides Of March, and the Republic tumbles into disorder) and finally, almost unreadable (Mark Antony and Cleopatra). Because I'm just not that interested in Egypt.
But as historical fiction goes, the first four in this series are, I think, unsurpassable.
September 24, 2021
Ye Gods!! This woman is a beautiful writer! By this point in the series, there is only marginally a definable plot, but she interweaves the machinations of the politics of the late Roman republic so well that you forget it is fiction. She takes massive liberties with historical facts, which doesn't matter at all. This is historical fiction at it's best!
September 2, 2022
Десять лет Цезарь торчит в Риме, строит политические многоходовочки и заводит разнообразные отношения с множеством женщин.
January 21, 2018
Story: 8 (A reasonably clear account of Caesar’s pre-Gallic career)
Characters: 8 (Well-written but not as memorable as Sulla)
Accuracy: 10 (Basically perfect)
I really hate the name of this novel and the next one. Caesar’s Women and Caesar? How uninspiring. I do wish she’d gone for her proposed title of Let the Dice Fly for the following one. I have no idea why this book is called Caesar’s Women. Women do factor into it, but not more regularly than in previous books. There is some truth to these titles in that Caesar is at the forefront in a way that none of the characters in the previous books were. This is Caesar’s story now, and he’s in it to win. His rise up through the political ladder is told clearly and carefully. In many ways this book is the most important of all from a narrative purpose. The alliances formed here and the fallout from these actions will motivate everything that happens in the final books. The stage is being set for Caesar’s civil war.
The book’s view of Caesar (and the rest of the First Men to one degree or another) really is that of a Nietzschean übermensch. Caesar (and the rest) is a great man full of great ability and promise. His foes are all mediocrities of one sort or another conspiring to prevent competent men from arising who might threaten their self-image as “great” men. And while this is certainly true to a degree, it ignores the destructive nature inherent to these übermenschen. Can you blame Caesar’s enemies for trying to prevent another Sulla? Another civil war with all the death and destruction that entails? And while it might be argued that this description of them is Caesar’s viewpoint (and I don’t doubt that this was how Caesar saw it) we’re never (at least so far) given any reasons for opposition to Caesar beyond personal animosity or jealousy. The book takes his side absolutely, not necessarily making him pure or anything (I think his basic personality and behavior is spot on) but making all his obstacles devoid of consequence. Maybe that will come back to bite him in future books. This is, after all, early days for him. But the two rival points of view are not really in place: that Rome needs change and this can only be done by placing a competent man in charge vs. that Rome needs to preserve her traditions and freedoms (especially aristocratic ones) against domination by a single faction. Instead it’s personal and petty, and while there was a lot of that and nobody’s motives were pure, it’s frustrating that only one side gets a genuine ideology and actual sympathy.
Regarding these übermensch, it seems odd to me that their goals don’t really matter, only their ability to reach them. Sulla’s intentions for Rome were vastly different from Caesar’s, yet both are treated in a generally positive way. Because they achieved something. That matters more than how they achieve it or even what they achieved. And that bothers me, both for the historical implications and the ethical ones. Yes, nobody turns to the Romans for views on proper moral behavior. Slavery, murder, corruption, extortion... these were all acceptable elements of Roman society and are all on display here. But there is a thesis being posed here that I find very troubling. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I don’t believe that
The curious thing here is that while the book takes Caesar’s side like a firm partisan it doesn’t really make him very likeable. Perhaps that’s impossible. A youthful Caesar with actual emotions and stuff can be enjoyed. This Caesar has largely discarded such limitations as reflecting ill on his dignitas. A cold, emotionless Caesar, even one who has emotions but just bottles them up to preserve his public image, can never be personally appealing to moderns so fond of emotional reactions. Or, frankly, to those who had to deal with him not as a successful and generous superior but as an equal. Because Caesar can brook no equal. That’s why it’s a lot easier to sympathize with Pompey’s childishness or Crassus’ genuine concern or Cato’s insane rage and Cicero’s weakness.
Speaking of the others, it was very nice to see Pompey actually developing into more of the competent military commander recorded by history. If there was a complaint about him from the last book it was that he was too childish and immature. But here Pompey develops an unexpected (and painful) ability to learn. It really impresses me how well McCullough is able to make these characters grow and develop without ever drawing attention to the changes or feeling unnatural or unearned. It was awe-inspiring to see decayed, decrepit, wicked Sulla appear from the East and still feel like the same person as young and overpowering Sulla. And it’s the same with mature Pompey. He’s still the overemotional man thirsting for praise who we saw as a kid, but he’s learned from his failures (something that seemed impossible) and now takes his campaigns a lot more seriously. And while he will never be a political as well as military genius, he’s sat down and worked out exactly how to go about gaining and keeping political positions too (even though it was really really boring and he hated it and it sucked and was stupid). I’ll be sad to watch his fall in the next book. But who can face Caesar and win?
Crassus was the real surprise here. While we saw a bit of him in the last book (the whole Spartacus thing) we never really got to know him outside his peculation and greed. But here he comes across as a loyal friend, loving father and husband, and generally sensible man. And also very close to Caesar. I never really thought of Crassus and Caesar as good friends. Their alliance always seemed more one of convenience, as with Pompey. But it works very well here. Just from a plot perspective, Caesar needs someone who’s close to an equal with whom he can plot and exposit. And as Aurelia is sidelined (a sad but necessary consequence of growing up) and suffers from the misfortune of being a female it needs to be someone outside the family. I was never expecting to actually like Crassus, who usually comes across as one of the bogeymen of the age: a greedy, cruel plutocrat who cared for nothing but wealth and advancing his own position. His fall will likewise be sad to watch.
Finally showing up is one of my personal favorite historical figures: Publius Clodius. A wonderfully mischievous man who seems to have gotten up in the morning rubbing his hands with glee at the thought of the trouble he could cause that day. An immensely enjoyable and eccentric demagogue, my only complaint is that we hardly spend enough time on him. Most of his famous acts take place between this book and the next, which is really unfortunate.
And then we get the optimates and related allies: Cato, Cicero, Scipio, and Bibulus. As mentioned before, they all come off pretty badly. Cato is nearly perfect as the screeching, angry man of extreme virtue and little give, although his good traits (honesty, integrity, bravery) are generally ignored in favor of his hypocrisies. Cicero is weak, vacillating, easily swayed, and quite full of himself. This isn’t far off, although again it seems to focus more on his negative traits than his positive ones. Bibulus is angry and vengeful, though not for any real reason. He was humiliated by Caesar way back as a contubernis (tent-mate), but while that obviously means he’s not going to get along great with Caesar (not helped by their having to contest every magistracy at the same time) it doesn’t seem to really justify his loathing and scuttling of his own career to take Caesar down. What did he fear? We never really find out. Which sucks, because that was one thing that Scaurus was really clear about. When one man rises too high above the rest Rome cannot cope. And since Scaurus’ time, the constant rise of such men has radicalized the remaining partisans. While he could work with Marius when it suited his cause, these men would rather tear down the state than give in to Caesar. But you’d still think that would make them more not less able to articulate clear motives. Beyond the strictly personal.
Oh, and Scipio was also present. That’s probably the most that can be said of him, both in the novel and in real life.
The story here is that of Caesar’s rise. And Pompey’s personal growth of course, but mainly Caesar’s ascension through the various magistracies. As such there’s not as many dramatic events going on. Certainly there are very few wars and revolutions. This is a moment of relative peace between the chaos of Sulla’s and Caesar’s civil wars. Caesar’s early career moves (pre-proconsul of Gaul) was fairly standard even if uncommonly perfect. Most of the conflict comes from the opposition, which is fierce and unyielding. His ascension up the ladder of the cursus honorum was standard, but his ambition and behavior during his terms of office were much resented. Which leaves the novel with plenty to dramatize, even as it struggles with the fact that Caesar isn’t the main mover of events.
Characters: 8 (Well-written but not as memorable as Sulla)
Accuracy: 10 (Basically perfect)
I really hate the name of this novel and the next one. Caesar’s Women and Caesar? How uninspiring. I do wish she’d gone for her proposed title of Let the Dice Fly for the following one. I have no idea why this book is called Caesar’s Women. Women do factor into it, but not more regularly than in previous books. There is some truth to these titles in that Caesar is at the forefront in a way that none of the characters in the previous books were. This is Caesar’s story now, and he’s in it to win. His rise up through the political ladder is told clearly and carefully. In many ways this book is the most important of all from a narrative purpose. The alliances formed here and the fallout from these actions will motivate everything that happens in the final books. The stage is being set for Caesar’s civil war.
The book’s view of Caesar (and the rest of the First Men to one degree or another) really is that of a Nietzschean übermensch. Caesar (and the rest) is a great man full of great ability and promise. His foes are all mediocrities of one sort or another conspiring to prevent competent men from arising who might threaten their self-image as “great” men. And while this is certainly true to a degree, it ignores the destructive nature inherent to these übermenschen. Can you blame Caesar’s enemies for trying to prevent another Sulla? Another civil war with all the death and destruction that entails? And while it might be argued that this description of them is Caesar’s viewpoint (and I don’t doubt that this was how Caesar saw it) we’re never (at least so far) given any reasons for opposition to Caesar beyond personal animosity or jealousy. The book takes his side absolutely, not necessarily making him pure or anything (I think his basic personality and behavior is spot on) but making all his obstacles devoid of consequence. Maybe that will come back to bite him in future books. This is, after all, early days for him. But the two rival points of view are not really in place: that Rome needs change and this can only be done by placing a competent man in charge vs. that Rome needs to preserve her traditions and freedoms (especially aristocratic ones) against domination by a single faction. Instead it’s personal and petty, and while there was a lot of that and nobody’s motives were pure, it’s frustrating that only one side gets a genuine ideology and actual sympathy.
Regarding these übermensch, it seems odd to me that their goals don’t really matter, only their ability to reach them. Sulla’s intentions for Rome were vastly different from Caesar’s, yet both are treated in a generally positive way. Because they achieved something. That matters more than how they achieve it or even what they achieved. And that bothers me, both for the historical implications and the ethical ones. Yes, nobody turns to the Romans for views on proper moral behavior. Slavery, murder, corruption, extortion... these were all acceptable elements of Roman society and are all on display here. But there is a thesis being posed here that I find very troubling. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I don’t believe that
The curious thing here is that while the book takes Caesar’s side like a firm partisan it doesn’t really make him very likeable. Perhaps that’s impossible. A youthful Caesar with actual emotions and stuff can be enjoyed. This Caesar has largely discarded such limitations as reflecting ill on his dignitas. A cold, emotionless Caesar, even one who has emotions but just bottles them up to preserve his public image, can never be personally appealing to moderns so fond of emotional reactions. Or, frankly, to those who had to deal with him not as a successful and generous superior but as an equal. Because Caesar can brook no equal. That’s why it’s a lot easier to sympathize with Pompey’s childishness or Crassus’ genuine concern or Cato’s insane rage and Cicero’s weakness.
Speaking of the others, it was very nice to see Pompey actually developing into more of the competent military commander recorded by history. If there was a complaint about him from the last book it was that he was too childish and immature. But here Pompey develops an unexpected (and painful) ability to learn. It really impresses me how well McCullough is able to make these characters grow and develop without ever drawing attention to the changes or feeling unnatural or unearned. It was awe-inspiring to see decayed, decrepit, wicked Sulla appear from the East and still feel like the same person as young and overpowering Sulla. And it’s the same with mature Pompey. He’s still the overemotional man thirsting for praise who we saw as a kid, but he’s learned from his failures (something that seemed impossible) and now takes his campaigns a lot more seriously. And while he will never be a political as well as military genius, he’s sat down and worked out exactly how to go about gaining and keeping political positions too (even though it was really really boring and he hated it and it sucked and was stupid). I’ll be sad to watch his fall in the next book. But who can face Caesar and win?
Crassus was the real surprise here. While we saw a bit of him in the last book (the whole Spartacus thing) we never really got to know him outside his peculation and greed. But here he comes across as a loyal friend, loving father and husband, and generally sensible man. And also very close to Caesar. I never really thought of Crassus and Caesar as good friends. Their alliance always seemed more one of convenience, as with Pompey. But it works very well here. Just from a plot perspective, Caesar needs someone who’s close to an equal with whom he can plot and exposit. And as Aurelia is sidelined (a sad but necessary consequence of growing up) and suffers from the misfortune of being a female it needs to be someone outside the family. I was never expecting to actually like Crassus, who usually comes across as one of the bogeymen of the age: a greedy, cruel plutocrat who cared for nothing but wealth and advancing his own position. His fall will likewise be sad to watch.
Finally showing up is one of my personal favorite historical figures: Publius Clodius. A wonderfully mischievous man who seems to have gotten up in the morning rubbing his hands with glee at the thought of the trouble he could cause that day. An immensely enjoyable and eccentric demagogue, my only complaint is that we hardly spend enough time on him. Most of his famous acts take place between this book and the next, which is really unfortunate.
And then we get the optimates and related allies: Cato, Cicero, Scipio, and Bibulus. As mentioned before, they all come off pretty badly. Cato is nearly perfect as the screeching, angry man of extreme virtue and little give, although his good traits (honesty, integrity, bravery) are generally ignored in favor of his hypocrisies. Cicero is weak, vacillating, easily swayed, and quite full of himself. This isn’t far off, although again it seems to focus more on his negative traits than his positive ones. Bibulus is angry and vengeful, though not for any real reason. He was humiliated by Caesar way back as a contubernis (tent-mate), but while that obviously means he’s not going to get along great with Caesar (not helped by their having to contest every magistracy at the same time) it doesn’t seem to really justify his loathing and scuttling of his own career to take Caesar down. What did he fear? We never really find out. Which sucks, because that was one thing that Scaurus was really clear about. When one man rises too high above the rest Rome cannot cope. And since Scaurus’ time, the constant rise of such men has radicalized the remaining partisans. While he could work with Marius when it suited his cause, these men would rather tear down the state than give in to Caesar. But you’d still think that would make them more not less able to articulate clear motives. Beyond the strictly personal.
Oh, and Scipio was also present. That’s probably the most that can be said of him, both in the novel and in real life.
The story here is that of Caesar’s rise. And Pompey’s personal growth of course, but mainly Caesar’s ascension through the various magistracies. As such there’s not as many dramatic events going on. Certainly there are very few wars and revolutions. This is a moment of relative peace between the chaos of Sulla’s and Caesar’s civil wars. Caesar’s early career moves (pre-proconsul of Gaul) was fairly standard even if uncommonly perfect. Most of the conflict comes from the opposition, which is fierce and unyielding. His ascension up the ladder of the cursus honorum was standard, but his ambition and behavior during his terms of office were much resented. Which leaves the novel with plenty to dramatize, even as it struggles with the fact that Caesar isn’t the main mover of events.
October 6, 2018
Whenever I complete a book from the Masters of Rome series, I never cease to wonder the talent that lay in the hands of Colleen McCullough who could turn more than 2000-year old history into such a fascinating piece of work, as if she stood there, right at the doorsteps of the Roman Forum, soaking in the politics, the gossips, the wars of Ancient Rome. Caesar’s Women brings us to a newer age of Rome, moving away from the previous three books where Gaius Marius and Cornelius Sulla took centre-stage for most times. It is now Caesar, and Caesar alone who is going to bring to life the stories of Colleen McCullough. It takes a bit of time though to reach to the real Caesar, as if Colleen McCullough wanted to give a flavour of Rome without him too, for once Caesar comes in the frame, it is difficult to look anywhere else. A man driven by his desire to be the best Roman the world has seen, a savvy politician, a sharp tactician, nonetheless burdened by those that feared his growing power. The book takes us through the journey of a mature Caesar who is coming close to his year as consul, as his sharpness of mind starts to make him stand apart from the crowd. A bit of Sulla, a bit of Marius, you will find, but Caesar still has his own personality that would make you dream of having lived in Ancient Rome and walked by his side. Oh, the energy that must have seeped through him!
As the title of the book suggests, many female characters do occupy a prominent position in this story. Caesar’s mother has always been a force to be reckoned with, but now we also meet his daughter Julia and the lady Servilia whose path will intersect with Caesar a lot. We get to see the roles these women played in Caesar’s life, the manner in which they influenced his decisions, and how instrumental they were in his rise. Oh, but no book on Rome is complete without the political entanglements, and Caesar’s Women continues to hold colourful and exciting stories on that front too as have the previous three books. New names emerge, old names remain, those with ties to Caesar, those who would do anything to see him fail. And we do read more on young Brutus, the lad who will play a critical role in Caesar’s history.
An extraordinary book, though I would rate it slightly below the previous three that I have read. Maybe Colleen McCullough has spoilt us with the grand narratives of Gaius Marius and Cornelius Sulla, that I missed them now. It took time for me to accept Caesar as the centre of the story. As an old man who would look at the stars and dream of the world gone by, I too felt a pang in my heart when those names I had become familiar with in Colleen McCullough’s first three books now were a memory, as a new generation takes over the Roman Forum and fights its own brand of politics. Pompey the Great is no longer the kid of the Butcher, trying hard to make a name for himself and feel accepted, but a veteran and the First Man of Rome. Ahh, how times change! But now that I have soaked in Caesar's world, I am truly excited about reading the next book, for it would be another great adventure that cannot be missed...
As the title of the book suggests, many female characters do occupy a prominent position in this story. Caesar’s mother has always been a force to be reckoned with, but now we also meet his daughter Julia and the lady Servilia whose path will intersect with Caesar a lot. We get to see the roles these women played in Caesar’s life, the manner in which they influenced his decisions, and how instrumental they were in his rise. Oh, but no book on Rome is complete without the political entanglements, and Caesar’s Women continues to hold colourful and exciting stories on that front too as have the previous three books. New names emerge, old names remain, those with ties to Caesar, those who would do anything to see him fail. And we do read more on young Brutus, the lad who will play a critical role in Caesar’s history.
An extraordinary book, though I would rate it slightly below the previous three that I have read. Maybe Colleen McCullough has spoilt us with the grand narratives of Gaius Marius and Cornelius Sulla, that I missed them now. It took time for me to accept Caesar as the centre of the story. As an old man who would look at the stars and dream of the world gone by, I too felt a pang in my heart when those names I had become familiar with in Colleen McCullough’s first three books now were a memory, as a new generation takes over the Roman Forum and fights its own brand of politics. Pompey the Great is no longer the kid of the Butcher, trying hard to make a name for himself and feel accepted, but a veteran and the First Man of Rome. Ahh, how times change! But now that I have soaked in Caesar's world, I am truly excited about reading the next book, for it would be another great adventure that cannot be missed...
January 9, 2018
For a while in the 1990s, I was very much into the whole fictional take on ancient Rome and its most famous citizens, such as Sulla, Gaius Marius, and Julius Caesar. It was one thing to read standard biographies of them and quite another to get absorbed in some fictional lifestyles. Thus, it was Colleen McCullough I turned to with her very enjoyable 'Masters Of Rome' series. I wasn't disappointed.
This is one of those summer-type books that get included in the walk to the beach. Spread that towel, slather on the sunscreen, put on the sunglasses, and read this book. The goods are here, just as the title states, as it's all about the women in Caesar's life, whether it be his mother or daughter or the Vestal Virgins (what?). Personally, I think one should start at the beginning of the series to get the feel for where McCullough is going with her historical figures, but this one will suffice anyway.
Book Season = Summer (toga toga)
This is one of those summer-type books that get included in the walk to the beach. Spread that towel, slather on the sunscreen, put on the sunglasses, and read this book. The goods are here, just as the title states, as it's all about the women in Caesar's life, whether it be his mother or daughter or the Vestal Virgins (what?). Personally, I think one should start at the beginning of the series to get the feel for where McCullough is going with her historical figures, but this one will suffice anyway.
Book Season = Summer (toga toga)
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