Brutus Ostling

Advantages: Good if you carry on to read Antony and Cleopatra
Disadvantages: You can get bored after a while

..."Julius Ceasar" is my top play this year. The play does not have long over the top melodramatic deaths like "Antony and Cleopatra", and I am very glad that I did read the play as advised by my English Literature teacher Natasha Quick. The only reason I read this play was to better understand "Antony and Cleopatra" The basic plot of Julius Caesar begins with Tribunes, Marullus and Flavius scolding Roman citizens for blindly worshipping Caesar. Their words reveals deep-seated fears that Caesar is growing too powerful and must be stopped. A little later, we see Caesar leading a procession through the streets of Rome. A Soothsayer (fortune teller) tells Caesar to beware the "ides of March]", a warning that he will die on this day. It is ignored... Cassius, fearing Caesar's ever growing power, begins to recruit Brutus, a close friend... Read review

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Advantages: exciting, good characters, believable world
Disadvantages: lack of historical accuracy

...This book is about the youth of Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus. They grow up together, sharing a deep friendship, and getting into trouble as a pair. As they grow older, Gaius' father hires a famous ex-gladiator to train them, which he does with plenty of abuse. When the ex-gladiator wounds Gaius, it is Marcus who takes revenge. Gaius' father is killed in a slave revolt, and Gaius assumes his adult name of Julius. He goes to his uncle for help, and the two boys become more involved in Roman politics. Julius lives a life of luxury, while Marcus leaves Rome to join a legion. It ends after a battle defending Rome itself; which, of course, Julius is involved in. The ending then sets up the next book in the series. As a novel, it's an excellent book. There's warfare, politics, romance, and intrigue. Iggulden has created a very... Read review

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Advantages: Another gripping story with some new characters and diffrent landscapes
Disadvantages: None

...Having spent most of his teens and early twenties fighting Pirates and crushing rebellions around Rome, Gaius Julius Caesar seems to be coming of age. Having been sent to Spain following the slave revolt however he seems to be stuck in a rut. A visit from Marcus Brutus's mother seems to respark Julius though and within months he returns to Rome to run for the senate. His plans after his period in the Senate see Julius head for Gaul and new friendships start to put a real strain on his relationship with Brutus. This is the third book in the latest series of fiction books about one of the Roman's greatest leaders. As a former English teacher, Conn Iggulden has taken to writing and for the majority of this book, like the previous two; he has stuck to recorded events in Caesar's life. Having read the previous two works by Iggulden I thought... Read review

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