A huge, sweeping, dark historical epic. It's like Gone with the Wind but with less romance and more betrayal and murder.

This is the best book series I have ever read by far. To begin with the fall of the roman republic I believe is one of the most entertaining dramas on its own in all of history, but then when you add the amazing writing style of Colleen McCullough the story just comes to life through the eyes of some of the most powerful men in the history of the world.
The series starts with the military genius Gaius Marius beginning his career with his triumphs in Africa where he meets a seer who tells him he will become the Roman consul seven times. The book then continues as he completely revamps the roman armies, and then must learn that an even tougher battle awaits him at Rome where he must battle the Senate and climb the cursus honorum to become the First Man in Rome. The series also introduces us to the very dark and troubled and disturbed Sulla who struggled to make his way up in the social roman ladder and eventually finds his way suddenly into the elite class of Roman citizens through a mysterious death and a fortunate marriage into an illustrious named family of the Caesars who had been fighting to keep from bankruptcy when a sudden influx of cash gave them the ability to revive their family name thanks to a convenient marriage with a very wealthy and very powerful Gaius Marius.
I have never read a more entertaining historical novel like this through the eyes of its characters that was able to keep the story so historically accurate. Colleen never skips past an event of the past or attempts to change history in order to make her books more entertaining or simpler. Instead she includes every important or even trivial detail and all the while giving each as much attention as the other. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Roman history or would like to learn about the fall of the roman republic. This series will cover everything from the rise of Marius and his bloody war with Sulla. To Sulla reshaping the Roman political system and then letting his generals fight over what is left of Rome after he retires. You will meet an over confidant and brash Pompey who needs a healthy dose of humility, and you will be taken on an unbelievable journey as you follow the life of a young Julius Caesar as he leans what it takes to be a great general from his uncle Marius and how to be cutthroat from his other uncle Sulla. His charm and genius will be no match for anyone in Rome and his ambition is unquenchable. You will follow his career into Spain and then his conquests in Gaul, and political maneuverings of the most powerful men in Rome. You will see his ambition tear Rome apart and break it into his dream of what he thinks Rome should be and then we see his inability to deal with smallminded inferior men and a devious woman in Cleopatra get him killed and its aftermath as Rome is again torn apart again by his bull headed cousin Marc Antony and his incredibly intelligent heir Octavian. Other notable characters that you will get to meet are the richess man in Rome Crassus and the most witty man in Rome Cicero. The back stabbing Brutus and the unflinching and biggest prude in histoy Cato.You even get to meet the African King Jugurtha and an rebelious Gladiator called Spartacus. You will fight against the barbarion armies of Vercingetorix and hunt down the eastern king Mithridates you even meet the crafty Herod the Great. This series will not dissapoint please read it is a must.

Colleen McCullough's "Master's of Rome" is one of my favorite historical fiction series about the Roman Republic. Phenomenally well researched and superbly accurate, this is a series that will give you a great look into the history of Rome, while being one of the finest stories out there.

The entire series is filled with maps, notes, and a copious glossary that will give even the most novice Roman history buff a thorough grasp of this intricate story. Starting in the year 110 BC (In the Consulship of Marcus Minucius Rufus and Spurius Postumius Albinus- during this period of Rome due to oddities with dating, it is common to refer to times by the Consuls), it traces the powerful interplay of greed, power and politics that is the Roman Republic.

The Romans were very mindful, lethally so in fact, of their "auctoritas" (an implication of preeminence, clout, leadership in public and private affairs) and "dignitas" (a man's personal share of standing in the community comprising his entitlement to respect). These were the driving forces of their world. On top of this, due to the Gracchi brothers, Tribunes of the Plebs who had tried to grant more powers to the Plebs and had been killed by more conservative forces- Rome is in a state of internal conflict between the "boni" (The Good Men- or the nobility) and the New Men (people, though very respectable, not of the old founding families). This sets up the stage for the huge names of history from the Gaius Julius Caesar (grandfather to Julius), to Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla.

This qualifies as historical fiction, due to the fact many of the conversations, accurate though they may be, are not on historical record. Otherwise? This is a fine history of the Roman Republic and the various conflicts it faced politically, economically, socially and militarily. In light of the devastating losses incurred by the Roman Legions due to poor generals, eventually leads to the Marian Reforms that create the new type (and far more identified with Rome by laymen) of Legion.

It is also a fine history of the wars between Rome and Jugurtha of Numidia and Rome. In time, it will go on to cover the wars Rome has with the Germanic barbarian hordes that descended into Italy, as well as the complex politics that dominated the entire amazing run of Gaius Marius' Six Cosnulships.

From novices to experts, hell even people who don't like history but like a damn fine story with plots, murder, hatred, power, money, lust.....yeah..it's all here and superbly explained. I can not say enough wonderful things about this series. scholarly, yet fascinating and very hard to put down. Do yourself a favor and read this series.

Such a well-researched and well-written book by Colleen McCullough who is best known for her international best seller, The Thorn Birds. But few know that she has a marvelous 7-volume series on The Masters of Rome, which documents ancient Roman history. Book 1 take place in the years 112-100 BC, and follows the fortunes of two famous Roman consuls, Gaius Marius and Sulla. McCullough takes us through their rise in this timespan and covers political turmoil in Rome, the African war against Jugurtha, and those many years and battles against the Barbarians (Germanic Tribes). Spectacular Historical fiction that mirrors actual historical events. If you are a lover of Roman history (as I am) or just enjoy classically good Historical Fiction than this book and series is for you!!!!
Read my full review for this and other books at www.viewsonbooks.com

Astounding. What the hell? Is it possible to write historical fiction like this? The level of immersion you can get with McCullough's writing is incredible. Every single stroke of the brush paints another corner of the world and seamlessly points to its following stroke. It's almost like poetry, the way colours are described, streets are walked through, houses are decorated, characters are vivisected and speech is pulled taught over the faces of actual historical characters. I cannot wait to continue reading the series. For a massive nerd like me for whom Roman history is akin to a drug, this is a full on cocaine bender.

A well written account of the doings in Rome from 110 BC to 100 BC. The era of one Gaius Marius who achieved the rank of consul six times and is noted for leading the Roman Legions in decisive battles. Colleen McCullough is gifted with being able to put things Roman in lay terms. That is, easy to understand without cumbersome Latin or Greek. She provides insight to family life among the characters.

Early in the saga McCullough sums up things Roman with: "For of all the people in the history of the world, the Romans were the most adept at finding ostensibly legal ways around the law." McCullough tends to gloss over some of the unsavory behaviors of Romans, such as their treatment of the spoils of war. Captives were sold into slavery at the profit of officers. Looting and rape were common among the legions as their rights as victors.

I do find humorous the corruption, bribery, role of money and arrogance within the politics of Rome. Why is that humorous to me? Over 2000 years have passed since the 100 BCs.
Corruption, money and arrogance continue to exist in modern day politics. Everything is changed, yet remain the same.

For you Kindle readers. Please note that the Kindle does not do justice to the maps contained in the book. However, my newer Paperwhite did an amazing job of looking up Roman locations, such as cities and rivers and listing the names by which they are known today. I enjoy using maps and have a chart of the world that lets me see the areas in northern Italy where the Roman armies traveled. Also, the African locations.

I'll take a rest from Rome for now, but will sometime pick up the next book in the series.

Simply an incredible read. If you are interested in the politics of the early Roman Republic, Ms. McCullough delivers an informative history lesson in the form of compelling fiction that will not disappoint. I picked up this book because I am fascinated on anything that deals with the history of early Rome during and after the Age of Antiquity. Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series came highly recommended by a friend of mine. I was absolutely blown away by the knowledge that she presents in these books and the way that she puts you in that time and place. Plus, she delivers a great account of the political battles within Rome's Senate that leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat to read the next installment. Don't pass these books up if you are a lover of historical fiction or Roman history.

I not only loved this book, but I am IN LOVE with this book. After 1000-page relationship, I’m sad that it’s over, but at least I know there are 6 more books in the series. Favorite parts included Publius Rutilius Rufus’s letter to Gauis Marius, and really anything involving Sulla.

The research that must have went into this book is astounding. I love historical fiction that allows you to get lost in another time and place and come out the other side having absorbed a plethora of knowledge without even realizing it (or feeling like you sat through a history lecture). I also appreciated McCullough's inclusion of relevant maps, diagrams, portrait sketches, a robust glossary, and even a pronunciation guide to enhance the overall experience. McCullough also takes care to explain how and why she portrayed certain historical characters and events in the way she did.

Before embarking on this journey , my knowledge of Ancient Rome was limited to the juicier parts of the fall of the Republic and the Roman Empire, and I was hesitant to start such a long story that didn’t even involve a mad emperor or two. Turns out I hadn't realized what I was missing!

I may take a short break before starting the second book in the series, The Grass Crown, not from lack of interest but because my back needs a rest from carrying around this brick with me 24/7 (I wouldn't have been caught dead without it for even one commute), and because I want to make this series last as long as possible!

Upravo sam juce na FB-u pisala o ovom serijalu... zato sto se tek sada pojavio prvi deo u Hrvatskoj... komentar je na FB stranici Povijesni romani... prevod srpskog izdanja je zastao - prevodilica je stigla do dela gde treba da ubije Cezara a to joj se nikako ne da... :) Prevodi su dobri, Zermen je veliki poznavalac Starog Rima :)

I detalj nepoznat široj javnosti... Srpski čitaoci mogu da zahvale direktno meni i mojoj neiscrpnoj upornosti da dobru knjigu doteram do čitaoca... 5 godina sam molila i kumila i ubedjivala vlasnika Narodne knjige da radimo ovaj serijal... Odbijao je to zbog obima knjige, više od hiljadu strana... Govorila sam mu da svaki naslov podeli na tri dela i tako ga objavi... Bezuspešno... Onda smo se vlasnik Lagune i ja družili tokom jednog snimanja za TV i u pauzama ćaskali o knjigama... I onda sam njega počela da ubeđujem s istom argumentacijom... Bogu hvala te me je poslušao posle kraćeg razmišljanja (a pre nego što sam omatorila i osedela)... :) Tako da je prve delove objavio pre nego što sam ja došla u Lagunu za glavnog urednika :)

Straordinario romanzo storico: i personaggi inanimati dei libri di storia romana prendono magicamente vita e carattere. Non potrò fare a meno, ora, di pensare a Mario, Silla e altri come quelli descritti in questo libro.
Stracolmo di informazioni, ha molto del saggio storico romanzato.
L'unico neo che riesco a trovare è che nelle ricostruzioni d'ambiente in guerra il mio interesse diminuiva, ma non certo perché non fossero fatte bene: tutto il contrario! È solo una questione di gusti, le battaglie mi annoiano. Preferisco molto di più le peripezie romane di quel "matto" di Silla e di Caio Mario!

Un libro grueso, lleno de historia y desarrollado de manera clara y amena, debido a los cambios de escenas entre los protagonistas. Como ya conocía las obras de Posteguillo, no me atemorizaba la cantidad de páginas. Más aún estaba animado y curioso.
Luego de leerlo no dejo de pensar que Posteguillo se inspiró y fue influenciado por la autora. Por ejemplo, en el manejo de los cambios de escenas. Me pareció bastante interesante el manejo de cartas como vehículo para contar historia. Con la trama, va incluyendo detalles de la vida en Roma de la época, la forma de pensar y el entorno político económico que justifica y ambienta el desarrollo de los personajes. Yo haría un par de mejoras, en las descripciones de batallas (que hace la historia de Roma más interesante) y la ubicación de los mapas para que no esté intercalado en el texto sino al final (para el físico es más fácil, porque me imagino que en el electrónico hay que señalar la página para llegar rápidamente durante la lectura).
Excelente la forma de interpretar la historia y su percepción de la literatura. No saber sobre el periodo de tiempo en cuestión incrementa la satisfacción al leer la novela porque te entretiene y te instruye. Me llenó de tanta curiosidad que voy a seguir leyendo los otros libros y buscaré sobre la guerra de Yugurta.
Me fascinó cómo en la historia de Roma, los sucesivos estadistas y militares fueron rompiendo tradiciones y generaron revoluciones. Y que casi siempre lo que ha hecho grande a Roma fueron ciudadanos de fuera, Mario (itálico), Trajano (hispano), Severo (africano), lo que debe destrozar cualquier sentimiento de xenofobia que podamos tener. En la actualidad el éxito de USA fue que acogió muchos migrantes europeos.

Para saber más de mis impresiones ve al video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8VxA...

Algunas de las mejores citas son:
El dinero es lo que manda en el mundo. Sin dinero, un hombre no es nada. No era de extrañar que cuando alguien alcanza un puesto en el que tiene ocasión de robar para enriquecerse, no dude en hacerlo.

Un hombre no descubre de qué está hecho si huye. Seguiré adelante. Tengo la suerte de mi parte. Porque me la he buscado yo mismo, y bien.

La buena literatura nunca había tenido por objeto ser un ejemplo o eco de la vida real, sino que estaba hecha para abstraer al lector momentáneamente de la vida, liberando su mente de consideraciones para posibilitar su solaz con el glorioso lenguaje de vívidas composiciones de palabras en forma de ideas imaginarias o fantasiosas.

Colleen invites us to unravel its intricacies layer by layer. It challenges us to confront the history within the story, suggesting that those who venture into this world may emerge with a changed perspective.