Emperor: The Gates of Rome: A Novel of Julius Caesar; A Roman Empire Novel: 01 - Softcover

Iggulden, Conn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0385343019 ISBN 13: 9780385343015

Publisher: Delta, 2009

Synopsis

From the author of the bestselling The Dangerous Book for Boys

Sweeping us into a realm of tyrants and slaves, of dark intrigues and seething passions, Conn Iggulden brings us a magnificent novel of ancient Rome--and of the early years of a man who would become the most powerful ruler on earth.

In a city of grandeur and decadence, beauty and bloodshed, two boys, best friends, dream of glory in service of the mightiest empire the world has ever known. One is the son of a senator. The other is a bastard child. As young Gaius and Marcus grow to manhood, they are trained in the art of combat--under the tutelage of one of Rome's most fearsome gladiators. For Marcus, a bloody campaign in Greece will become a young soldier's proving ground. For Gaius, the equally deadly infighting of the Roman Senate will be the battlefield where he hones his courage and skill. And for both, the love of an extraordinary slave girl will be an honor each will covet but only one will win. But as Rome is thrust into the grip of bitter conflict, as every Roman prepares to take sides in the coming battle, Gaius and Marcus's friendship will be put to the ultimate test....

About this title

Review:

The first volume of a sequence of novels about Julius Caesar, The Gates of Rome is at its best in its scenes of gruelling training in swordplay and dirty fighting. Iggulden's Caesar is more or less fated from the start by his circumstances to be a gifted and cynical player in the great game of Roman senatorial politics--his father is an old-fashioned servant of the public good who dies in a slave revolt. Young Caesar finds himself having to hit the ground running--family alliances throw him onto the losing side in a battle for power between generals Marius and Sulla.

One reservation about Iggulden's story is that he simplifies the pushing and shoving of Rome's two most powerful men to a degree that makes Caesar's choices and loyalties too simple--this is a version of Rome in which politics is only about power and never about ideas. Caesar's friendship with his blood-brother Marcus is too redolent with historical irony--Marcus will be his assassin--and Iggulden is a little novelette-ish in his portrayal of young Caesar's affairs of the heart. This is a competent, routine account of material that deserves better than this handling of it. --Roz Kaveney

Review:

"Conn Iggulden is a grand storyteller...[he keeps] adults turning pages like enthralled kids."--USA Today

"Brilliant."--Bernard Cornwell

"Iggulden knows that history derives from 'story'. Don't miss it."--Los Angeles Times

"An absorbing portrait of ancient Roman life and history, well written and full of suspense--even for those who know the ending."--Kirkus Reviews

"What Robert Graves did for Claudius, Iggulden now does for the most famous Roman emperor of them all--Julius Caesar." --William Bernhardt, author of Criminal Intent

About this edition

• Publisher: Delta
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0385343019
• ISBN 13: 9780385343015
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368