Caesar : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Much better than Caesar's Commentaries!
Review: McCullough sure made me feel as though I was inside the tents with Caesar's generals, putting together the Gallic Campaign. I enjoyed her feel for explaining and re-telling Roman warfare. I question the characterizations of Antony and Cleopatra in this book. I don't seriously think that Antony would've gotten as far as he did had his character in real-life been as much of a "butt", as McCullough describes. He was actually one of Rome's most gifted orators, and a brilliant cavalry officer. And, though most historians agree that Cleopatra was not as beautiful as the vamps on the silver screen, she could'nt have been ugly, or Caesar and Antony would have done Octavian's job for him!

Rating:
Summary: Rome is alive....but where's the next book in this series
Review: I have read all of the books in Colleen McCullough's "Masers of Rome Series", and each book has been an improvement on the former. This series brings all of the characters of ancient Rome to life, not just as subjects in a history book, but with full character, thoughts and feelings. Just one problem, the author seems to take longer and longer each time to complete the next book in the series. Come on Colleen, you got us hooked, now finish the job, and don't tell me "Rome wasn't built in a day".

Rating:
Summary: The entire series is brilliant!
Review: I have read all of Ms. McCullough's works, and the Masters of Rome series is by far the best. Each novel builds on the previous one, but can be read as a separate entity. The characters are vivid and accurately portray the time period. I anxiously await the next in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Read this series....and wait eagerly for the October Hors

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as earlier books in the series.
Review: The first four books in McCullough's series of novels about first century BC Rome were highly enjoyable, but this one disappoints. There is too much summarizing and too little characterization. As someone familiar with the history of the period, I became bored at times by all the background information that was simply narrated rather than being worked into the plot of the novel. The quality of the writing was also inferior to that found in some of Ms. McCullough's earlier books.

Rating:
Summary: I NEVER WANT IT TO END...A GREAT READ
Review: I started with the "First Man in Rome" 6 sweks ago and am now on this the 5th book in McCullough's Roman Series. I'm afraid for it to end because the next one is not yet written. Her characters are so alive and so visible to the mind's eye. The lands, people and lifestyles are all so easily pictured. She makes history come alive so vividly that anyone even a little bit intersted in history will become hooked on this series. Her descriptions are rich without being so extensive you must reread to comprehend. She is truly a gifted wordsmith. I can't wait for the next in the series "The October Horse." Bravo

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Being an avid fan of McCullough's Ancient Rome series, I anxiously awaited this new installment.It was worth the wait. If you loved the others in this series, this one will not disappoint you! Keep them coming!

Rating:
Summary: Most Enjoyable
Review: I really enjoyed reading the book and could hardly put it down. She is obviously somewhat infatuated with Caesar but the story is quite well written. I can't wait to read the next one whenever its put out.

Rating:
Summary: McCullough has successfully dissected the thoughts of Rome.
Review: McCullough has managed to penetrate the thoughts of Roman men again. Her dissection of the ethnocentricity of the Roman culture is brilliant . Like the other books of this series she has made an attempt and succeeded at making lecture, war, and love all equally fascinating while giving us a wonderful history lesson. I wait impatiently for the next of this series.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written but historically naive
Review: This book is well-written and easy to read. It tells an excellent story. The only weak spot is that McCullough paints Caesar as a "good guy" who just wanted to clear his name when he invaded his own country and overthrew the lawfully elected government. This is naive. She accepts, without skepticism, the statements of those historians who apologized for Caesar. She does not seem to realize that what happened in Rome in 50 B.C. was a classic military coup. The toughest general (Caesar) used his troops to take power. He is really not much different from General Pinochet or Colonel Quaddafi.