This is my second favorite so far in the Masters of Rome series. Second to the very first book, "Masters of Rome". Caesar establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with. His uncanny powers of manipulation are used for the advancement of his politics, therfore increasing his dignitas (his ultimate goal). After the death of the only women he truely loved, women become merely tools to be used to his advantage. He uses them for the destruction of other men, for their insights and to make sure he is spoken of in a positive way by most people. Apparently, many love conquests by a married man was approved of in Roman times. No wonder, since men were in charge of everything.
I enjoy learning about Roman history the way Colleen McCullough tells it. It would have been much easier to learn history in school if it were taught in this manner.

Fascinante, una travesía no vista de Cesar, un acompañamiento claro y poderoso, la lectura se va rápido y es amena. Un placer leer y soñar con lugares y pasados.

This was my first try at reading a Colleen McCullough book and I was not disappointed. It took me a LONG time to get thoroughly into the story (I got bogged down with all the Roman names for awhile) but once it grabbed me it didn't let me go. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books and more from this specific series... she is an AMAZING writer and did exhaustive research for this particular historical series.

This book contains many, many details about the workings of the Roman senate and administration and the complicated, intertwined families and personalities of Rome. I found myself looking up names, titles and Roman administrative history and losing the flow of the story. I admire her research but found the plot difficult to follow at times. Still, I am glad that I slogged through and will still read the next in the series of seven.

In the 4th book in her "Masters of Rome" series, McCullough continues the story of Julius Caesar and the people and events in his life. We begin with Caesar's return to Rome after his proconsulship in Spain and his election as Pontifex Maximus. The core plot point of the book is the ongoing conflict between Caesar and the "boni" faction in the Senate (e.g. Bibulus, Cato). We see the formation of the first triumvirate, as Caesar partners with Crassus and Pompey for their mutual benefit.

"Caesar's Women", suitably titled, also tells us much about the women in Caesar's life--his mother Aurelia, as she moves in with Caesar to oversee the Vestal Virgins, Caesar's daughter Julia and her ultimate marriage to Pompey, and Servilia, mother to Brutus and Caesar's mistress. The entire book takes place in Rome and McCullough gives us lots of information about these women and the events in Rome that they are a part of.

McCullough's novels in this series are masterful. They are incredibly researched--McCullough reportedly spending 13 years researching the period before starting the first novel. But they are also incredibly readable, given the depth of the characters that she creates. She does a good job of staying faithful to the historical records that we have, while fleshing out the various personae, bringing them to life. Her books are an enjoyable read even for readers not already fans of Ancient Roman history.

It feels somewhat ridiculous that I should dare to write a review of yet another epic Colleen McCullough Masters of Rome novel. Her grasp of the subject, her fearless (and sometimes original) interpretation of ancient sources and above all her superb ability to craft a well paced story are gripping.

Her stated aim in this book was to explore the lives of women of nobility in the late Roman Republic, not an easy thing to do given that men held all the power and influence and it was of course men who wrote the history. I'm not qualified to say how accurate she has been in her portrayal of Caesar's women, all I know is that it made for compulsive reading.

One can't help feel that McCullough held a deep admiration for Aurelia, Caesar's mother. Perhaps she saw something of herself in Aurelia. Placing a focus on Caesar's women was a daring and inventive move given that the 3 main male characters in the book are the formidable triumvirs, Caesar, Pompey and Crassus. They ooze power. And yet we see Caesar and Pompey in a different light through the women in their lives.

The interaction between these 3 titans is gripping especially as we know what was to happen in the future. I was almost breathless reading the passage as Caesar and Pompey meet and Caesar 'reaches out' to Pompey as he explains why having Pompey's adversary Crassus on board is essential only to realise that Pompey isn't going to be the friend he could have been.
“All well and good, Caesar, but it doesn’t get us anywhere to speculate. Why do we have to bring Crassus in?” A logical and practical question. A pity then that in asking it Pompey rejected an offer of what might have become a deep and enduring friendship. What Caesar had been doing was reaching out to him, one superior sort of man to another. A pity then that Pompey was not the right superior man. His talents and interests lay elsewhere. Caesar’s impulse died."
Wonderful!

If like me you love Cicero from the Robert Harris novels, you're going to discover that McCullough is less of a fan.

There is so much about Rome that we feel is familiar such was its influence on the ancient world and yet Roman society, morality and ethics are so far removed from what we hold dear today in an allegedly liberal, progressive West that what was held to be civilised and progressive then appears mean and barbaric now.

Truly amazing!!

This is now my second time through this series of books. THE MASTERS OF ROME. I can’t even begin to imagine the effort it took to research and write these books. In the author’s notes at the end of the book, McCollough writes that she spent 13 years researching before she started the first book of the series, “The First Man of Rome”. It shows. The amount of detail and her interpretations of the limited scholarly records still available paint a vivid picture of life in Rome over 2000 years ago. I love historical fiction. I love this series. Truly my favorite series of books. Nothing is even close!!!

The fascinating thing about the book is that it was a tale really the followed the title. It was about (as quality historical fiction) the roman women early in Caesar's time; the men in the story were more the supporting characters than tends to be the case. Even Caesar. It and the endnotes were fascinating, even though the book was quite a "chunkster" at over 900 pages.

My favorite of the Masters of Rome series. I really like the portrayal of domestic life and the politics in Rome. Caesar is portrayed as nearly perfect, and although I admire him a lot, it's a bit hard to believe he was this flawless. The various women of the title are quite interesting. We've met his mother Aurelia in the previous books in the series and get to know her a little better. She appears to be the one person he confides in, not really having any male friends of his own class. We also get to watch his daughter Julia grow up and become politically useful to him. Once he's elected Pontifex Maximus, he has the six Vestal Virgins to watch over, and does a really good job of it. Finally, there's his mistress Servilia, Cato the Younger's half-sister, whom he doesn't really love, but can't seem to give up. The book ends with his leaving Rome for his extended campaigns in Gaul.

Ingenious

Amusing and engaging novel that brings ancient Rome and the people that lived it to life. Using the legacies left behind as tools to create a world wherein we as readers, can live the troubles and triumphs of its most notable inhabitants, Colleen McCullough has risen once again to bring the true spirit of the Republic home. Throughout this whole novel I cheered and I boo'd right along with with the people of Rome. On to the next!

I liked this one a bit less than the earlier books in the series. This is actually the fourth book in the Master of Rome series. Earlier ones focused on key predecessors to Caesar in the late Roman Republic--Marius and Sulla. This is the first book then where Julius Caesar dominates the narrative.

I don't think McCullough's books shine because of her prose. Some complain the books are ponderous, the prose pedestrian, and I think there's justice in that. She's not a strong stylist such as Robert Graves or Mary Renault. But what I did love in the Master of Rome series is how well she conjures up the late Roman Republic, from the at times alien mindset to things where it's easy to to see modern parallels such as in the Roman Senate, to the surprisingly cosmopolitan insula (tenement).

My main problem in the later books is, like with Renault and Alexander the Great, McCullough obviously hero worships Caesar. It's not just his depiction alone. I have a friend who is a classicist, and her take on Caesar is that "he's awesome." As written by McCullough Caesar is extremely gifted and a charmer. I think my problem is that every other character is put through the Caesar prism. McCullough's Cicero, for instance, is far from admirable. (Although again, my classicist friend would actually agree on that.) But it seems as if everyone opposed to Caesar in this story is a tool or an envious fool.

As for Caesar's women, I don't know that I feel they're all that front and central here in a way that justifies the title. Certainly Caesar's mother, Aurelia, is among the most modern in feel, the strongest female character, and the most admirable. Servilia, one of Caesar's mistresses, is abominable, but fun to read. One of those characters you almost love to hate, and when I think of this book, among the scenes I find absolutely the most memorable is her crucifixion of a slave.

So, very much still worth the read, but for me Caesar is beginning to wear out his welcome.

Caesar’s Women, #4 in the Masters of Rome Series by Colleen McCullough was one hell of a work-out. This is my least favourite of this series, but I still loved it. Let me explain.

Caesar’s Women isn’t the best title. Sure, there are numerous key women in this instalment, and many bump into the rake-like Julius Caesar, many even partake in horizontal refreshments with the man. In fact, Caesar uses this act, putting his ‘body on the line’ if you like, to cuckhold various political opponents. He was prolific in this regard.

The three prominent women in his life, and in this story, were his mother Aurelia (a wonderful, strong, no-nonsense type, a true Matriarch), Julia (Caesar’s beautiful daughter, perfect in every way – betrothed to an acne ridden, uncertain, young Brutus, and later handed over to Pompey the Great – some 30 plus years her senior), and his main lover Servilia (Caeser’s main sex interest – vampish, sexy, an absolute Machiavillianette, oh and she's Brutus’ mum, a political player extraordinaire).......yes, THAT Brutus.



Servilia – Brutus’ mother, Caesar’s primary lover

So yes, there is a focus on some significant women in Caesar’s life here BUT, this is really ALL about politics. In other words, the political rise of Julius Caesar. The juror, orator, charmer, looker, senior consul, fixer – and let’s not deny it, well hung Patrician. Sure, he’s had some minor military success in the East as a young man, but his major military campaigns – eight years of genocide in Gaul, are yet to come – this will be the story of #5 in the series Caesar I expect.

But heck – this was so, so heavy on politics.



Aurelia – Caesar’s mother, what a woman – this lady was ‘large and in charge’

My word I miss the gargantuan characters of Marius and Sulla in previous instalments, the wars, the military shenanigans with only a dash of politics – that’s my ideal cocktail. If you read this episode, you’ll have none of those famous military campaigns, none of the slashing and burning, the fights within and without. This is about the Senate, the Tribune of the Plebs, the Equestrian class, Consuls, Magistrates, Praetors, Governors, and law courts the list goes on. But we meet interesting characters like Cato, Cicero (oh what a wordsmith – he could filibuster with the best of them, and he knew it), Catilina, Hybrida, Curio, Bibulus, Crassus, Ahenobarbus (Nero’s ancestors – the real Ginger Ninjas, a horrible lot really), Piso and so many more. Put it this way, there were around 600 Senators – I think I met half of them.



Cicero – one of Caesar’s political foes. Cicero was fundamental in exposing the Catiline Conspiracy, which resulted in the execution of the conspirators – without trial (massive scandal). This famous incident is covered in this book

So, this was dry at times – perhaps too often. You know the type of book when you pick it up and one’s eyelids become heavy within 5 minutes. Yes, that riveting. But it was wonderful – the amount of research Mrs Mac must have done would’ve been colossal. The 200-page appendix is a testament to that.

But, slogging through this one has been well worth it – I feel this fascinating period of pre-Imperial Rome is very much embedded in my marrow now. Something that can only be attained by spending too much time absorbing material such as this. Sure, this is historical fiction, and Mrs Mac takes liberties, but when one randomly checks the main story points – to be sure, they did happen.

This is one for devoted lovers of Ancient Rome.

4 Stars