The Gates of Rome (The Emperor Series) - Softcover

Iggulden, Conn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0440240948 ISBN 13: 9780440240945

Publisher: Dell Pub Co, 2004

Synopsis

In the glorious and decadent city of Rome, Gaius and Marcus--one the privileged son of a senator and the other, a cunning bastard--grow up as friends and students of a powerful gladiator, forced to walk different paths as the empire plunges toward civil war and the two men are thrust into the middle of a bitter conflict that will put their friendship to the ultimate test. A first novel. Reprint.

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:

'Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction.' (Daily Mirror)

'A brilliant story – I wish I’d written it. A novel of vivid characters, stunning action and unrelenting pace. It really is a terrific read.' (Bernard Cornwell)

'A rich and compelling novel that draws the reader into an extraordinary time and the life of an extraordinary man.' (David Gemmell)

'The descriptions of combat in the circus, slaves in revolt, skirmishes in Greece, amputations and street fighting are all convincing.' (TLS)

About this edition

• Publisher: Dell Pub Co
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0440240948
• ISBN 13: 9780440240945
• Binding: Paperback