Caesar: Life of a Colossus

Book Review: "Caesar: Life of a Colossus" by Adrian Goldsworthy Adrian Goldsworthy’s Caesar: Life of a Colossus is an extraordinary biography that meticulously traces the life and career of one of history’s most iconic figures, Julius Caesar. This comprehensive work deserves a five-star rating for its ability to provide a detailed and coherent understanding of Caesar's movements and actions, year by year, against the backdrop of his illustrious career. Goldsworthy’s narrative begins with Caesar’s birth in Rome in 100 BC and takes us through his early life, including his flight from Rome during Sulla’s proscriptions and his service in Asia Minor. As Caesar climbed the political ladder, Goldsworthy meticulously documented his roles as quaestor in Spain, aedile, Pontifex Maximus, praetor, and governor of Further Spain. Each step is backed by ancient sources and modern scholarship, providing a well-rounded view of Caesar’s formative years. The biography excels in its detailed recounting of the Gallic Wars (58-50 BC), where Caesar’s military genius and political acumen are vividly brought to life. Goldsworthy’s use of ancient historians like Suetonius, Plutarch, Appian, and Dio Cassius is masterful, as he cross-references their accounts to paint a comprehensive picture of Caesar’s campaigns. The descriptions of his invasions of Britain, the suppression of the Gallic revolt, and the continued campaigns to secure Gaul are rich in detail, providing a clear understanding of the complexity and scale of these military endeavors. Goldsworthy’s portrayal of the Civil War (49-45 BC) and Caesar’s subsequent dictatorship is equally compelling. Every event is meticulously documented, from the dramatic crossing of the Rubicon to the decisive battles at Pharsalus, Thapsus, and Munda. Goldsworthy’s narrative ensures readers can follow Caesar’s movements and strategies with clarity, supported by evidence from inscriptions, coinage, and archaeological findings. The book does not shy away from discussing the biases and limitations of ancient sources, highlighting the political and philosophical influences that shaped their accounts. Goldsworthy’s critical examination of these sources and modern archaeological interpretations provide a balanced and nuanced view of Caesar’s life. What makes Caesar: Life of a Colossus exceptional is its ability to synthesize historical and archaeological evidence into a coherent and engaging narrative. Goldsworthy’s scholarship allows us to understand Julius Caesar as a historical figure and a dynamic and multifaceted leader whose actions and decisions shaped the course of history. This comprehensive understanding of Caesar’s life and career is why I give this biography a five-star rating. For anyone interested in Julius Caesar's life , the politics of the late Roman Republic, or military history. Goldsworthy’s biography is an indispensable resource. It is a work that both enlightens and captivates, providing readers with a profound understanding of one of history’s greatest colossi.

History Lover's Dream. Goldsworthy writes beautifully. He touches on all aspects of an event or an issue without dogmatically "picking a side." The book includes a detailed bibliography for anyone who wants to search out other noted historians of this period. I have seldom enjoyed such sheer reading pleasure. I cannot imagine how long it took to research and write this masterpiece.

Goldsworthy is an apt writer, not at the levels of the masters but very readable. His Caesar is complete and well organized. The three main sections are almost the same length: "Rise to Consulship", "Proconsul" (which covers mainly the Gaul and British campaigns) and "Civil War and Dictatorship". This gives you an idea of the scope and depth of each section. The first part is very good indeed. It discusses a lot of background and the setting for Caesar's early life. Inevitably there's a lot of guessing of the future Dictator's actions, but it is a complete account of the rise of Caesar and the one I enjoyed the most. The second part (the Gaul and British campaigns) is much less successful, with a tendency towards pure description. It is too long compared with the rest of the book and has a lot of unnecessary detail that doesn't engage the reader. The final section ("Civil War and Dictatorship") could be a complete book on it's own. One misses in Goldsworthy more detail and explanation of the political implications of everything that's happening. For instance, he rushes through the process when Caesar is named Dictator for life, and doesn't explain how the political process evolved to that. Compared to the amount of details of the second part, this is a bit disappointing. It's an entertaining book and one learns a lot from it, but don't expect great insight or fantastic writing and storytelling.

I came to this book after reading Napoleon: A Life, since Napoleon so often referenced Caeser. It's a very similar book, the elites & their politics, the military campaigns & conquests & the inexorable, but by no means guaranteed, rise of someone from obscurity to ultimate power & eventual downfall. Like the Napoleon book it's very handy having Google open to explain intricacies that are unceasingly mentioned in the first 1/3rd or so but are obscure if you just stick to the book. The portrayal of Caeser the man is very clear & I can't help but think that Caeser & Napoleon would've got along really well if they'd ever met.

As all of Adrian's books this is clearly written and very well researched. The references are detailed and the bibliography makes it easy to follow up on any further reading you might wish to pursue. His use of primary and secondary sources is varied and make for a very enjoyable and informative read about one of the most charismatic and influential men in Ancient history.

Gostei

This is an absolute masterpiece of biographical writing. It's a thoroughly fascinating account of one of history's most fascinating figures. By the end, the reader feels he knows Caesar almost intimately. It's an extraordinary achievement. There isn't a dull page in the book. When Caesar finally falls under the daggers of the treacherous senators, one can't but help feel a pang of sadness. Very highly recommended for even a casual reader of Roman history.

My son loved it, a must for Roman historians

Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in much more detailed picture, then you will ever see on tv. Makes so much sense, makes you really understand the situation and mentality in a way. Great work. Amount of information is staggering. Thank you.