Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was, as this book maintains, quite simply the most famous Roman who ever lived. His influence endures to the present day: in our 'Julian' calendar of 365.25 days, which he introduced; in the geographical entity we call France, whose boundaries he established; and, thanks to his 'invasion' of 55 BCE, his is virtually the earliest familiar name in the history of Britain. This introductory book seeks to explore the many facets of his complex character - his vanity and his vitality, his charisma and his cruelty. It seeks to set his astounding career and accomplishments against the background of late republican Rome, so enabling the reader to understand not only Caesar himself but also the violent and destructive world in which he grew up. It traces in detail the sources of his phenomenal rise to power and the deep unpopularity which ultimately made him 'one of the loneliest men alive.' Garland pays particular attention to the day of Caesar's death, which can be re-constructed on an almost hour-by-hour basis like no other day of the ancient world. Caesar's powerful legacy is also examined, as is his 'reception' in European thought and culture from antiquity to the present day in a variety of media, including epic poetry, drama, fiction and film. The book includes a guide to further reading.

Robert Garland is Roy D. and Margaret Wooster Professor of the Classics at Colgate University, Hamilton, New York State.