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I just yesterday saw this book on Augustus. I believe it was newly released in mid October. Having checked Amazon I read the reviews and found them all to be very complimentary. Also there is a newly released book on Caesar by Goldsworthy which also recieved high praise.
Any comments or recommendations?(I'll probably get both eventually).
Andy Booker
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I do like the book about Julius Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy. [amazon] Caesar: Life of a Colossus[/amazon]. It reads well and added to my knowledge of some of the personalities in the life of Julius Caesar and their interactions.
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Thanks,Caius.I knew a book by Goldsworthy would have to be good. Already on my Christmas wish list.
Andy Booker
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I liked Anthony Everitt's book on Cicero. Good blend of Biography, History and Social world of Ancient Rome. He would say something like "Cicero got married in such in such year" and then explain the marriage ceremonies of the rich and common people. His new book, says to focus on Octavius and less on the history of the period, but there are so many twits and turns in this time, that I am 2/3 through the book, and I am just starting to get the analysis of Octavian, up until now it has been a retelling of the history, with a few sidebars from time to time.
I am not enjoying it compared to his last book, but it is informative and well written, just not as engaging as I had hoped.
He does review battles, personalities, scandals and the attitudes of the people involved and tries to speak to the gaps in the sources. If you planned on buying it, buy it, if you weren't sure, I'd get some more reviews or crack open the book for yourself and see what you thought.
Hope that helps
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Andy,
I just finished it and really enjoyed it -- well written, informative, etc.
He admits the limitations of his sources when comparing how much detail he was able to provide for the first and second periods of Augustus' life.
Given what he had to work with, it's a great biography.
Edge
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