Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
William Morrow & Co (1996), Edition: 1st, 696 pages
Description
The story of Julius Caesar on the theme that behind every man there stands a woman. In this case there were several, among them his strong-willed mother, his formidable mistress and his beautiful daughter, whom he married to Pompey in order to cement an alliance. The story is told against the background of everyday life in ancient Rome, detailing the mores and manners of the day. By the author of The First Man in Rome.
Media reviews
"With great brio, and ample attention to Roman customs and rites, as well as to the religious, sexual and social institutions of the day, including slavery, McCullough captures the driven, passionate soul of ancient Rome."
"A muscular, convincing re-creation of Rome's political arena--and some legendary combatants."
User reviews
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I liked this one a bit less than the earlier books in the series. This is actually the fourth book in the Master of Rome series. Earlier ones focused on key predecessors to Caesar in the late Roman Republic--Marius and Sulla. This is the first book then where Julius Caesar dominates the narrative.
I
My main problem in the later books is, like with Renault and Alexander the Great, McCullough obviously hero worships Caesar. It's not just his depiction alone. I have a friend who is a classicist, and her take on Caesar is that "he's awesome." As written by McCullough Caesar is extremely gifted and a charmer. I think my problem is that every other character is put through the Caesar prism. McCullough's Cicero, for instance, is far from admirable. (Although again, my classicist friend would actually agree on that.) But it seems as if everyone opposed to Caesar in this story is a tool or an envious fool.
As for Caesar's women, I don't know that I feel they're all that front and central here in a way that justifies the title. Certainly Caesar's mother, Aurelia, is among the most modern in feel, the strongest female character, and the most admirable. Servilia, one of Caesar's mistresses, is abominable, but fun to read. One of those characters you almost love to hate, and when I think of this book, among the scenes I find absolutely the most memorable is her crucifixion of a slave.
So, very much still worth the read, but for me Caesar is beginning to wear out his welcome.
I
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don't think McCullough's books shine because of her prose. Some complain the books are ponderous, the prose pedestrian, and I think there's justice in that. She's not a strong stylist such as Robert Graves or Mary Renault. But what I did love in the Master of Rome series is how well she conjures up the late Roman Republic, from the at times alien mindset to things where it's easy to to see modern parallels such as in the Roman Senate, to the surprisingly cosmopolitan insula (tenement). My main problem in the later books is, like with Renault and Alexander the Great, McCullough obviously hero worships Caesar. It's not just his depiction alone. I have a friend who is a classicist, and her take on Caesar is that "he's awesome." As written by McCullough Caesar is extremely gifted and a charmer. I think my problem is that every other character is put through the Caesar prism. McCullough's Cicero, for instance, is far from admirable. (Although again, my classicist friend would actually agree on that.) But it seems as if everyone opposed to Caesar in this story is a tool or an envious fool.
As for Caesar's women, I don't know that I feel they're all that front and central here in a way that justifies the title. Certainly Caesar's mother, Aurelia, is among the most modern in feel, the strongest female character, and the most admirable. Servilia, one of Caesar's mistresses, is abominable, but fun to read. One of those characters you almost love to hate, and when I think of this book, among the scenes I find absolutely the most memorable is her crucifixion of a slave.
So, very much still worth the read, but for me Caesar is beginning to wear out his welcome.
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LibraryThing member neferset
It's a coin toss as to which is my favorite in the Masters of Rome series, Caesar's Women or The First Man in Rome.
The women referred to in the title are not just Caesar's wives or lovers. It also refers to his mother, who was one of the most important influences in his life, his daughter, Julia,
I love this series more for its portrait of everyday life more than the interesting story of how Rome began to move away from its republican beginnings.
The women referred to in the title are not just Caesar's wives or lovers. It also refers to his mother, who was one of the most important influences in his life, his daughter, Julia,
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and even the Vestal Virgins that were in his care as Pontifex Maximus. It's a great look into the lives of the upper class women and a thoroughly interesting read. Unlike the major male players, less is known about the women so McCullough can have a lot more license regarding their personalities.I love this series more for its portrait of everyday life more than the interesting story of how Rome began to move away from its republican beginnings.
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LibraryThing member Bestine
Ms. McCullough's whole "Rome" series is great, but this one is my favorite.
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
The tone of this novel was very different from the others in the series. While it was filled with lots of political intrigue and schemes, it was tempered by homey touches of domesticity. Caesar’s women don’t really matter to him except to help hold up his dignitas. He feels a great duty to each
The political machinations are unreal and Caesar is a bit too much of a Superman through them all. Even in his defeats he finds some way to triumph over his enemies.
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of them in their respective little pigeonholes. The political machinations are unreal and Caesar is a bit too much of a Superman through them all. Even in his defeats he finds some way to triumph over his enemies.
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LibraryThing member john257hopper
Probably my favourite historical fiction series. Really meaty and engrossing.
LibraryThing member triminieshelton
Julius Caesar's life in Rome around the year of his consulship before he left for Gaul. Every single piece of legislation chronicled, every single name mentioned anywhere in the contemp. texts brought in. Very long and yet full of interesting info about Roman life and society of the time. good
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glossary of terms at end. Not particularly fond of her style. This is ok, but not lit. Show Less
LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: Like the second half of Fortune's Favourites, this book suffers from being set in a time where no long-term events were taking place. The story deals with minor events that each take up a hundred pages at most, with connections between them sometimes tenuous. The narration picks up towards
Characters: Caesar is turning out a touch too perfect and just isn't believable. Crassus and Pompeius are great and well drawn, as are some of the adversaries. The women suffer when it comes to characterization, and tend to come out a lot less interesting than the men.
Style: The text feels slow. It's easier to get through than the previous volumes since the political maneuvering is not as complex, but the writing itself slows things down.
Plus: Pompeius' characterization. The Catiline Conspiracy gets the attention it deserves.
Minus: Servilia is so overdone as a harpy, she's painful to watch.
Summary: As solidly researched as all the others, but this one lacks political events to fill the pages, so domestic affairs take up some of the space.
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the end when the triumvirate forms, but before that it has a tendency to get lost in subplots. Characters: Caesar is turning out a touch too perfect and just isn't believable. Crassus and Pompeius are great and well drawn, as are some of the adversaries. The women suffer when it comes to characterization, and tend to come out a lot less interesting than the men.
Style: The text feels slow. It's easier to get through than the previous volumes since the political maneuvering is not as complex, but the writing itself slows things down.
Plus: Pompeius' characterization. The Catiline Conspiracy gets the attention it deserves.
Minus: Servilia is so overdone as a harpy, she's painful to watch.
Summary: As solidly researched as all the others, but this one lacks political events to fill the pages, so domestic affairs take up some of the space.
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LibraryThing member nillacat
First class research, first class recreation of an alien culture. Her Caesar is a super-man, whose passions, intellect and temperament are quite unbelievable. She describes him as possessing terrific charm, and her character does possess that charm, so that you do believe in him, and sympathize
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with him, and cheer for him. Show Less
LibraryThing member santhony
Book four in the Masters of Rome series, this book most closely resembles the HBO series "Rome". While it touches uponthe key players in the final years of the Roman Republic, it also spends a lot of time on the women behind the scenes.
LibraryThing member flourishing
I really enjoyed McCullough's obviously extensive research, but I was disappointed at her writing style. I couldn't finish the book because she was constantly switching perspective, lecturing, and generally using writing techniques poorly. Not going to be one I recommend to others, despite the fact
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that I'm dying to read more books set in the Subura! Show Less
LibraryThing member flourishing
I really enjoyed McCullough's obviously extensive research, but I was disappointed at her writing style. I couldn't finish the book because she was constantly switching perspective, lecturing, and generally using writing techniques poorly. Not going to be one I recommend to others, despite the fact
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that I'm dying to read more books set in the Subura! Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
This was really a good book ... I wish I'd read it in the right order ... now I feel like I need to go back and re-read Caesar. Oh well. I like the domestic side and the political intrigues better than I like the battle stuff so this one was for me. I just wish they were shorter!!!
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996-03-21
Physical description
10 inches
ISBN
9780688093716
Local notes
FB Spanning the years 67–59 BC.