I got the impression from this book that the Romans loved politics and empire building, and despite their cults and gods and goddesses were a fairly secular and rational people. But we are left wondering what Caesar was really like - despite being an extensive writer himself, Caesar was not given to self-reflection, and his copious accounts of his various military campaigns do not shed much light on the inner workings of his mind.Ĭaesar was a serial seducer of women, too, although it may come as a surprise to some readers that his affair with Cleopatra came near the end of his packed life, and occupies barely a chapter of this lengthy book. The author dwells on his impressive leadership qualities (which included a reticence to punish his enemies, which was unusual for his time), his charisma and his incredible energy. You can't help but be overawed by how much Caesar achieved in his action packed life, and how he did so without the logistics, communications and infrastructure that we take so much for granted in the modern world. So this account draws on a wide range of sources and is expertly narrated. We are fortunate in that Caesar's life was well-documented during his own lifetime (by Caesar himself, and by Cicero amongst others) and by historians living not long after, such as Dio.
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