The Emperor-series by Conn Iggulden

This is a large, four-book historical fiction series based on the life of Julius Caesar, and thus dealing with the history of the Roman empire. After the movie Gladiator, a large number of books dealing with ancient Rome were written, and this is one of these.

I love reading about Rome, and especially about the great and somewhat aloof Caesar, perhaps the greatest warrior the world has ever known. I liked the Emperor-series by Iggulden a lot, even though I think Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome-series (see review of Anhony and Cleaopatra) is both better and considerably more historically “correct”.

Iggulden’s books are to some extent written as action movies. They are full of gladiatorial combat, pirate attacks, fighter training, ambushes by robbers, street riots, and battles by land and sea in Greece, Gaul and Spain. And Caesar and Brutus are cast as the big and mighty military superheroes.

As well, the series takes a lot of shortcuts with history. It makes Caesar and Brutus exact contemporaries, which they were not. Also, the series makes Octavian a generation older than he was, by making him Caesar’s nephew rather than great-nephew.

However, Conn Iggulden writes well, is good at describing military life in Rome, creates excitement and moves fast. So, even with these flaws, I liked his books a lot, as a large number of other historical fiction readers have. And I do recommend them.

Emperor: The Gates of Rome, by Conn Iggulden

The Emperor-series begins somewhere around 92 BC with this first volume. In The Gates of Rome, the story of the man who wouldEmperor: The Gates of Rome, by Conn Iggulden become the greatest Roman of them all, Julius Caesar, begins. The Gates of Rome introduces a very ambitious young man who faces his first great test. The young Gaius Caesar, raised to hold a prominent position in Rome, finds himself in difficult circumstances when family alliances throw him onto the losing side in a battle for political power between generals Marius and Sulla.

This book, as the others in the series, is partly historical, partly fictional. The two main characters, Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus, are, of course, historical. We follow them in all four volumes. However, other characters are purely fictional, such as the gladiator Renius, slave-girl-turned-jewellery-maker Alexandria and the mysterious Eastern healer Cabera. Also, in the series, we meet other historical figures, such as the generals Marius and Pompey, the dictator Sulla, King Mithridates of Pontus, Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), Mark Antony, Queen Cleopatra, and the great Roman orator Cicero.

This first book in the series tells the story of two young boys - Gaius and Marcus - raised as brothers though one is illegitimate, as they grow to adulthood in Rome two thousand years ago. At that time, the republic was beginning to fall apart, a collapse that would result in the civil wars that brought the emperors to power. It was a time of great turmoil, chaos, revolutions, casual violence, and savage brutality, and Iggulden's descriptions of the culture and environment are vivid. Although covering a period unknown to most lay readers, The Gates of Rome is a surprisingly fast and often very exciting read.

Links to the Emperor-series by Conn Iggulden at amazon US: Emperor, and at amazon UK: Emperor-series

Emperor: The Death of Kings, by Conn Iggulden

The Death of Kings, book two in the series, is a more enjoyable read than the first book. Here, Caesar and Brutus are young men soldiering for Rome.

Iggulden is great Emperor: The Death of Kings, by Conn Iggulden at writing battle scenes that are exciting to read and at depicting the soldier's life. And here he spins a riveting tale. The book is full of battle and it places the reader right into the middle of the chaos, blood, and hardship of battle.

Iggulden also has a command of the realities of daily life in the world of the Romans. He shows us the little things as well - history's great figures dealing with the frustrations and agonies of the real world: pulled muscles, tormenting flies, and romance that isn't working. As well, the world he shows us is a a civilized world with its own craft and technology, different from ours - thus interesting - and well described.

Forced to flee Rome, Julius, a rising young officer assigned to the Roman-controlled northern coast of Africa, distinguishes himself in a bloody raid on the fortress of Mytilene only to have his transport ship captured by pirates. He and the crew are thrown into the hold to rot while awaiting a ransom that will likely ruin his family back in Rome. After the ransom arrives, Julius gathers his loyal men and marches along the coast, impressing the locals into military service. He then makes good on his promise to wipe out the pirates. Having done that, he takes his forces to Greece, where he defeats old king Mithridates, who is leading an insurrection that threatens Roman rule in all of Greece.

Thus the young Julius returns to Rome victorious and rich. However, he soon finds that the corruption and thuglike violence at the heart of the Republic has come near to destroying those he holds dear, including his wife and small daughter.

Emperor: The Field of Swords, by Conn Iggulden

In The Field of Swords, Caesar, emerging as a great general, takes significant steps into the complex arena of the politics of the Roman republic, andEmperor: The Field of Swords, by Conn Iggulden moves even further to the forefront with his famous conquest of Britain. Caesar is a man of ambition, and the results of his ambition are dramatically played out in this book.

Here, we follow this mysterious genius' political and military career from Spain to the grand, bloody and complicated conquest of Gaul, as well as into his abortive expedition into Britannia. Caesar already had a well established political presence in Rome as a consul by the time he was given the freedom to pacify Gaul. However, as he carried out this task, all the time making certain that the Roman people could hear of his exploits in his own words, his star rose higher and higher. Caesar's ability to manipulate news and create spin was considerable.

This is a tale of a military leader of major proportions, of stunning battle tactics, patience and courage. Caesar takes his legions into mighty battles with the Gallic tribes. And his style of leadership allows him to form strong bonds both to his soldiers and his generals. However, the relationship to Brutus, the great swordsman and warrior, is deteriorating and under great pressure.

Following the conquests in Gaul, Caesar wants to return to Rome and take his rightful position as a hero. However, Rome and the Senate are frightened of Caesar, his army, and his ambitions. It becomes clear that in order to return, Caesar may have to fight Rome itself. Is Rome bluffing? Will they back down?

Emperor: The Gods of War, by Conn Iggulden

In The Gods of War, General Julius Caesar crosses the fabled Rubicon. Thus the die are cast, and by this action Caesar initiates a civil war among rival Roman legions. Matching wits with cunningEmperor: The Gods of War, by Conn Iggulden Roman dictator and military genius Pompey the Great, Caesar grapples for power both within the confines of the city of Rome and in all the far-flung corners of the empire.

Caesar must now fight his toughest battle yet - with Rome itself. Fresh from triumph in Britain and Gaul, he marches against Rome with his legions of hardened veterans. His goal is to unseat Pompey, who is now dictator of the Empire. But Pompey flees Rome, bringing with him the Senates, in order to go to Greece and unite his forces with the legions there. Thus Pompey is able to creat a force that far outnumbers that of Caesar. And Caesar has no choice but to take the war to Pompey. Will Caesar prevail? And at what cost?

The Gods of War, the final book in the Emperor-series, is a tale of ambition and loyalty, of friendship and power, of leadership and cunning, and of love and war. It is a famous tale, of epic dimensions, that ranges from Rome to Greece to Egypt and back to Rome. And Iggulden manages to tell it in a way that is very well worth reading.

The Emperor-series: Final note

If you want page turning and fairly easy to read historical fiction about Caesar and Rome, then this series delivers it. The reviews of the Emperor series have been good, and deservedly so.

If you want to read books that are somewhat more accurate historically, but with less excitement, then Christian Meier's biography "Caesar" and Tom Holland's Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, may be what you want. They great, solid books. If you want historical novels that are exciting, Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome-series can be read alongside Igguldens books. (Links to the Masters of Rome-series by Colleen McCullough at amazon US: Masters of Rome, and at amazon UK: Masters of Rome.)

Links to the Emperor-series by Conn Iggulden at amazon US: Emperor, and at amazon UK: Emperor-series


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