The Landmark Julius Caesar - by Kurt A Raaflaub & Robert B Strassler (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Landmark Julius Caesar is the definitive edition of the five works that chronicle the mil­itary campaigns of Julius Caesar. Together, these five narratives present a comprehensive picture of military and political developments leading to the collapse of the Roman republic and the advent of the Roman Empire.

The Gallic War is Caesar's own account of his two invasions of Britain and of conquering most of what is today France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The Civil War describes the conflict in the following year which, after the death of his chief rival, Pompey, and the defeat of Pompey's heirs and supporters, resulted in Caesar's emergence as the sole power in Rome. Accompanying Caesar's own commentaries are three short but essential additional works, known to us as the Alexandrian War, the African War, and the Spanish War. These were written by three unknown authors who were clearly eyewitnesses and probably Roman officers.

Caesar's clear and direct prose provides a riveting depiction of ancient warfare and, not incidentally, a persuasive portrait for the Roman people (and for us) of Caesar himself as a brilliant, moderate, and effec­tive leader--an image that was key to his final success.

Kurt A. Raaflaub's masterful translation skillfully brings out the clarity and elegance of Caesar's style, and this, together with such Landmark features as maps, detailed annotations, appendices, and illustrations, will provide every reader from lay person to scholar with a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

(With 2-color text, maps, and illustrations throughout; web essays available at http: //www.thelandmarkcaesar.com/)

Review Quotes

"Stunning. . . . Mr. Raaflaub has surpassed even the previous high standards of the Landmark series by supplying full, expert and wide-ranging notes, almost all containing his own elucidations rather than showy scholarly references. This achievement is amplified by more than 40 appendix essays, all commissioned by Mr. Raaflaub and several written by him, addressing all sorts of literary, military and biographical questions. . . . History buffs, classicists, fans of television's Rome Do not pass up this gift. Whether you revere Caesar as a military genius or despise him as a butcher and a tyrant, The Landmark Julius Caesar is an indispensable way to read his writings and understand his rise to power."
--James Romm, The Wall Street Journal

"Splendid. . . . A boon for every student. . . . A distinguished historian and classicist, Raaflaub offers an excellent translation."
--The New Criterion

"Glorious. . . . The Landmark Julius Caesar is a superb addition to a superb series."
--The National

About the Author

KURT A. RAAFLAUB completed his Ph.D. in Switzerland, served eight years as co-director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C., and is now professor emeritus of classics and history at Brown University. His main fields of study are the social and political history of the Roman republic; the social, political, and intellectual history of archaic and classical Greece; and comparative history of the ancient world.

ROBERT B. STRASSLER is an unaffiliated scholar who holds an honorary Doctorate of Humanities and Letters from Bard College and is chairman of the Aston Magna Foundation for Music and the Humanities. He lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.