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Masters of Rome #6

The October Horse

colleen mccullough

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With her renowned storytelling gifts in full force, Colleen McCullough delivers a breathtaking novel that is both grand in scope and vivid in detail -- and proves once again why she is the top historical novelist of our time.

In the last days of the Roman Republic, Gaius Julius Caesar is both adored and despised -- but his rule is unshakable. Forced by civil war to leave his beguiling mistress Cleopatra, Caesar turns his eye to the future: who is to inherit the throne of Roman power? But in the shadows of the empire, the talk is of murder. Who among his associates has the cunning and skill to fell the fierce leader -- and brave the dangerous consequences of that cataclysmic act?

1110 pages, Paperback

First published November 26,2002
Series
Masters of Rome
Places
alexandria, rome, egypt, 

This edition

Format
1110 pages, Paperback
Published
November 1, 2003 by Pocket Books
ISBN
9780671024208
ASIN
0671024205
Language
English
Characters More characters
  • Gaius Cassius Longinus

    Gaius Cassius Longinus

    Gaius Cassius Longinus (before 85 BC – October, 42 BC) was a Roman senator, a leading instigator of the plot to kill Julius Caesar,[1] and the brother in-law of Marcus Junius Brutus....

  • Brutus, Marcus Junius

    Brutus Marcus Junius

    Marcus Junius Brutus (early June, 85 BC – 23 October, 42 BC), often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his...

  • Cleopatra

    Cleopatra

    Cleópatra Thea Filopator (em grego, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ – Cleopátra Philopátor; Alexandria, 69 a.C. — 12 de agosto de 30 a.C.) foi a última rainha da dinastia de Ptolomeu, general que governou o Egito após a conquista daquele país pelo rei Alexandre III d...

  • Marcus Agrippa

    Marcus Agrippa

    ...

  • Marcus Antonius

    Marcus Antonius

    Marcus Antonius (83 – 30 BC) was a Roman politician and general. He was an important supporter and the loyal friend of Gaius Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator, being Caesars second cousin, once removed, by his mother Julia Anto...

  • Augustus

    Augustus

    Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the founder of the Roman Empire; he reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.[a] The reign of Augustus initiated an impe...

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About the author

Profile Image for colleen mccullough

colleen mccullough

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Colleen Margaretta McCullough was an Australian author known for her novels, her most well-known being The Thorn Birds and Tim.

Raised by her mother in Wellington and then Sydney, McCullough began writing stories at age 5. She flourished at Catholic schools and earned a physiology degree from the University of New South Wales in 1963. Planning become a doctor, she found that she had a violent allergy to hospital soap and turned instead to neurophysiology – the study of the nervous system's functions. She found jobs first in London and then at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

After her beloved younger brother Carl died in 1965 at age 25 while rescuing two drowning women in the waters off Crete, a shattered McCullough quit writing. She finally returned to her craft in 1974 with Tim, a critically acclaimed novel about the romance between a female executive and a younger, mentally disabled gardener. As always, the author proved her toughest critic: "Actually," she said, "it was an icky book, saccharine sweet."

A year later, while on a paltry $10,000 annual salary as a Yale researcher, McCullough – just "Col" to her friends – began work on the sprawling The Thorn Birds, about the lives and loves of three generations of an Australian family. Many of its details were drawn from her mother's family's experience as migrant workers, and one character, Dane, was based on brother Carl.

Though some reviews were scathing, millions of readers worldwide got caught up in her tales of doomed love and other natural calamities. The paperback rights sold for an astonishing $1.9 million.

In all, McCullough wrote 11 novels.

Source: http://www.people.com/article/colleen...

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
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99 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
NotTrying2BLazy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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I love this series so much, I 100% understand the fans lobbying for her to continue despite this being a good ending point for someone who wanted to write about the end of the Roman Republic and, more importantly, about the life of Caesar.

But her Octavian is so good ♥ I love the whole actor's motif that evocates Sulla from the initial books. I don't agree much with how emotional he is when regarding Caesar, but that's to be expected coming from McCullough. Also, everything between Octavian and Agrippa was the best gay romance I have ever read. Can't wait to see how it goes when Livia enters the stage.
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V4Watcher
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Me ha gustado menos que los anteriores porque empieza a perder fuelle el eje central de la saga que es la política republicana. Con la muerte de César y todos sus enemigos políticos antes y después, al final se queda un vacío donde el nuevo triunvirato apenas tiene rivales aparte de sí mismos. Va a ser interesante ver el paso de la República al Imperio, pero la saga está perdiendo la magia de la política senatorial que la ha hecho grande.
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Gloomy-eyes
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Prior to reading 'The October Horse' I had enjoyed 'Dictator' the final installment of Robert Harris's Cicero/Tiro trilogy. Reading these 2 books in close proximity was fascinating as it appears both authors have a soft spot for their central character and a dislike for the other protagonist.

Colleen McCullough certainly shows Caesar at his best and one wonders what might have been prevented and what might have been, had he not been assassinated. Cicero meanwhile is not flattered in any way whatsoever!

Having read all 5 of the preceeding Masters of Rome series it feels churlish and disrespectful to suggest this is not the best, but perhaps that is only because McCullough has set such a high standard. There are the inevitable summary passages and statements included for the benefit of readers who haven’t read 1-5 which can feel a bit repetitive. I felt the 'Cor blimey guvnor' style of dialogue attributed to some Roman soldiers (on the odd occasion they have a speaking part) was a little clumsy.

Where McCullough exels is in making us understand what she thinks is going on in Caesar's head. Early in the book she has Caesar reflecting on deliberately referring to himself in the 3rd person as an embodiment of Rome. That felt authentic and powerful.

Yet again we discover as the narrative unfolds just how cruel and violent the ways of Rome were. As this book races to its conclusion I was thinking never mind the First Man In Rome we might be left with the last man standing!

And....I'm so pleased Colleen McCullough changed her mind and wrote a 7th in the series....can't wait!
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AMurasakibara9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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This whole series is a masterly analysis of Caesar's life, what was happening in Rome around his life, and a huge range of characters.
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Tfsn
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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When I began reading these McCullogh novels I had no idea that at the end I would be considering a historical mystery. Namely, after 600 years of a republic how could it all vanish in a generation? Now I know.
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debu811
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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This is the 2nd to last in the Masters of Rome series. I read the others years ago and just loved, loved, loved them.

A word of caution to anyone new to the series. Don't try to remember all the names (every Roman has three) and just latch onto the one name for the major characters.

McCullough is at her best when combining historical facts with a well thought out psychological profile for every major character. She puts the reader in the point of view of Caesar, Cleopatra, Cato, Brutus, Marc Antony, Octavian and many more, yet never misses a beat. Understanding their motivations is what powers the narrative.

Caesar's time in Egypt wasn't quite as exciting and we start to see and feel his age. He's still in command, but he's devastated by the death of Pompey. The romance with Cleopatra is as political as all his other affairs, but now he's middle-aged and seems more interested in teaching her as a professor than a lover.

The rendering of Cato at the end of his life was especially insightful. In the earlier books, Cato came off as miserly and miserable (which he was). But in north Africa, as the Republicans were falling apart, Cato was the only one who showed signs of brilliance, even managing to do a great job commanding a legion and being the reasonable one in the room.

After Caesar is gone, McCullough weaves the historical facts into an intricate and understandable story that plays out through the egos of Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Marc Antony and Octavian. It ends with Brutus's death and we start seeing how Marc Antony and Octavian will start the last phase of the struggle to control Rome. Of course, we know who wins, but McCullough makes it fascinating to read a blow-by-blow recounting of how and why it all happened.

Marc Antony & Cleopatra is the last book in the series. Kinda sad to see it come to an end.
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AmadeusCho2021
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Assolutamente da leggere se si è appassionati del mondo romano antico o se si è innamorati della figura di Gaio Giulio Cesare.
Sorprendentemente scorrevole, nonostante (ovviamente) la presenza di una moltitudine di nomi e parole appartenenti al mondo antico.
Essendo un romanzo, e non un volume storiografico, ne ho apprezzato alcune rifiniture fantastiche/fittizie delle vicende e dei personaggi.
Comunque, un gran capolavoro…capace di far emozionare, travolgere e insegnare tanto.
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