Audiobook8 hours
The Death of Caesar: The Story of History's Most Famous Assassination
Written by Barry Strauss
Narrated by Robertson Dean
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
William Shakespeare's gripping play showed Caesar's assassination to be an amateur and idealistic affair. The real killing, however, was a carefully planned paramilitary operation, a generals' plot put together by Caesar's disaffected officers and designed with precision. Brutus and Cassius were indeed key players, but they had the help of a third man-Decimus. He was the mole in Caesar's entourage, one of Caesar's leading generals, and a lifelong friend. It was he, not Brutus, who truly betrayed Caesar.
Caesar's assassins saw him as a military dictator who wanted to be king. He threatened a permanent change in the Roman way of life and in the power of senators. The assassins rallied support among the common people, but they underestimated Caesar's soldiers, who flooded Rome. The assassins were vanquished; their beloved Republic became the Roman Empire.
Caesar's assassins saw him as a military dictator who wanted to be king. He threatened a permanent change in the Roman way of life and in the power of senators. The assassins rallied support among the common people, but they underestimated Caesar's soldiers, who flooded Rome. The assassins were vanquished; their beloved Republic became the Roman Empire.
Author
Barry Strauss
Barry Strauss is a professor of history and classics at Cornell University, The Corliss Page Dean Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and a leading expert on ancient military history. He has written or edited several books, including The Battle of Salamis, The Trojan War, The Spartacus War, Masters of Command, The Death of Caesar, and Ten Caesars. Visit BarryStrauss.com.
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Reviews for The Death of Caesar
Rating: 4.541666666666667 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
24 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An informative and very well written account of Caesar's assassination. Mr. Strauss is a highly respected historian for good reason. His analysis of the various primary sources is thorough and balanced, and he adds fresh perspectives as to the possible motivations of the various assassins. Simple yet powerful, this is clearly the best available analysis of this famous event.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A good book but it looses a star due to the narration. Voices like this guys used to put me right to sleep in school.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well written and excellently narrated! I highly recommend it to those fascinated by the Greco-Roman world.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very readable synopsis of the world's most famous assassination, written for the educated layperson. First part: background information on Caesar, his career, personality and many people whose lives touch his for good or ill. While reading, remember all is, as the author says, "informed speculation." The author has melded all ancient writings on the event: from Cicero [contemporaneous] to Nicolaus of Damascus [several decades after] to Plutarch, Suetonius and the latest, Cassio Dio [late 100s A.D.]. The author considers Nicolaus the most reliable, even so not perfect. Much of the sources you have to take with a shakerful of salt. Three men possibly cooked up the conspiracy: Brutus, Cassius, AND Decimus, the last maybe the ringleader. None were shining lights: all were venal, greedy, opportunistic, self-serving.... In spite of his charisma, Caesar himself was a colossal egoist and master manipulator.Part 2: the meat of the drama: 100 times more exciting than Shakespeare, who based his play only on Plutarch. This part set out criteria for other conspirators besides these three. There were a prediction, ill omens, and dreams beforehand that Caesar blithely ignored. It was fascinating to read how the assassination was carried out and where. The pugio [military dagger] pictured on the cover was the weapon used. It struck me the television potboiler "Rome" was very accurate in its portrayal of the murder and death of Caesar. This scene is worth watching to visualize what might have been the most likely scenario. No "Et tu, Brute" in sight! Part 3: The conspirators did kill Caesar [Phase I of their plot] but made a botch of trying to restore the Republic and taking control of the legions. The funeral was much more theatrical and melodramatic than Shakespeare. After years of fighting, Octavian emerged on top; the last conspirator was killed by 30 BC. Author's conclusions seemed a bit rushed or maybe my eyes were glazing over by that time.This is an excellent analysis, especially Part 2. Supplementary matter was complete and useful. Highly recommended.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I picked this book because I wanted to know more about Julius Caesar’s death than Shakespeare’s play. And I’m so glad I did.
Not only did Strauss give a throughly researched book, but one that was easy to listen to. He also references the play in regard to the sources Shakespeare would have had access to.
Well worth the time. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A very well researched and detailed account of the events that led up to the assassination of Julius Caesar, the event itself and the power struggle that ensued for Rome after his death. You will learn about little known conspirators that had a major hand in the event and have been virtually forgotten over time. Also, find out what motivated Brutus and Cassius to orchestrate the event. The author's thesis was that they felt Julius was usurping power and they felt they could restore the Republic. I thought it was a solid piece of writing that well appeal to all history buffs.