John Williams’ Augustus is an epistolary novel-that is, a work composed of letters and memoires. Some of the letters are taken from actual correspondence by historical figures of the time, such as Cicero and Maecenas, and others are complete inventions of the author, speculating on what the character would have written if given the chance. […]
Book Review: Caesar’s Daughter-Julia’s song
June 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
“It was a paranoid time in the City. Politicians were more concerned with denying glory to their rivals than with solving problems. Everybody was stabbing everybody in the back. There was no legitimate economy-it was characterized by exploitation and unsustainable debt. Discontent among the masses was rising-there were high levels of unemployment, and great resentment […]
Book Review: Eve of Ides by David Blixt
February 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Eve of Ides is a two-act play in which the author, David Blixt marries William Shakespeare and Colleen Mc Cullough. William Shakespeare, of course, wrote the play Julius Caesar, which, as Blixt points out, was more about Marcus Junius Brutus than it was about Caesar. In his playwright’s notes, Blixt states: “It is hard to […]
Quotes of the Day: On Courage
May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet, not withstanding, go out to meet it.”-Thucydides “Cowards die many times before their actual deaths.”-Julius Caesar “Yield not to calamity, but face her boldly.”-Virgil “He is a man of courage who does not run […]
Quotes of the Day: On Death
May 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist death is not there. And when it does come, we no longer exist.”-Epicurus “Which death is preferable to every other? The unexpected.”-Julius Caesar “Death may be the greatest of all human blessings.”-Socrates “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the […]
Quotes of the Day: Politics, Law, and Justice
May 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”-Plato “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.”-Plutarch “if you must break the law, do it to seize power. In all other cases observe it.”-Julius Caesar “Justice […]
Book Review: Marching With Caesar by R.W. Peake
December 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you ever wondered exactly what it was like to be a Roman legionary in the first century B.C., this is your book! The author, R.W. Peake, has a strong military background and a firm grasp of the psychology of both the common soldier and his higher ranking leaders. He also has extensive knowledge of […]
Notable Woman of the Roman Republic: Livia, the Wife of Caesar Augustus
August 18, 2012 By 1 Comment
Caesar Augustus’ wife Livia Drusilla was born in 58 BC during the closing years of the Roman Republic. Her father was Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus, who was born Appius Claudius Pulcher but was adopted as an infant by Marcus Livius Drusus. Rome, during Livia’s early years was marked by constant tumult and civil war. […]
Notable Women of the Roman Republic: Hortensia
August 7, 2012 By 6 Comments
Hortensia was the daughter of Quintus Hortensius Hortalus, 114 BC to 56 BC. Hortensius was regarded by many as the best legal advocate and orator of his day, rivaled only by the great Marcus Tullius Cicero. Hortensia, growing up in her father’s household was well educated and had studied Greek and Roman history, philosophy and […]
Book Review: Caesar’s Ambassador by Alex Johnston
I loved this book. Historical fiction as comedy. A belly laugh on every page. Caesar’s Ambassador is narrated by Marcus Mettius, who serves as ambassador along with Gaius Valerius Troucillus to the German chieftain Ariovistus. “I don’t know why you’re so worried, Marcus. Everybody knows that harassing ambassadors is against the rules. Anyway we treated […]