Caesar

Adrian Goldsworthy's landmark biography examines Julius Caesar's life from his early years as a politician and advocate through his conquests in Gaul, the Civil War against Pompey, his dictatorship, and assassination.

The book provides rich historical context on Roman society, emphasising that Caesar's extraordinary career was not inevitable but shaped by gambles, luck, and the Republic's underlying instability, including escalating violence and aristocratic rivalries.

Goldsworthy maintains impartiality, analysing Caesar's merits, faults, military genius, and policies that benefited many while highlighting his hubris and the Republic's aversion to kingship.