Emperor: The Gates of Rome - Conn Iggulden

I had mixed feelings about buying this book. It was initially the two for one deal that won me over. First, I had never heard of Conn Iggulden and I'm usually cautious about reading things by authors I am unfamiliar with. Second, Iggulden had a high work output - The Gates of Rome is itself the first in series - and there is always the fear of quantity over quality. Third, I am again careful about beginning a series of books, as I will usually continue until I've read the lot. My first impression, reading the opening chapters, was not particularly favourable. I found the writing style clunky, with jarring timeshifts. I began to think I was reading ...  Read the complete review

I have to admit I'm not much of a reader. I can only read books that grip me from page one and that have a constant pace that keeps me interested. Conn Iggulden's Emperor series does this. I have decided to do a brief summary of the whole series here so it's all in one review. Conn Iggulden is an English writer who writes fantastic historical fiction. A former English teacher I find Iggulden's writing to be captivating. It is by no means simplistic but he has an amazing ability to provide intimate detail and get to the point! Then there is his subject matter. For this series he follows the life of Julius Caesar. He not only put an incredible amount of ...  Read the complete review

This book is brilliant. As are the rest of the Emporer series. Conn Iggulden has written an engrossing tail about one of the most successful and influencial Generals in history. You have to remember that the majority of the book is conjecture, with a huge dosage of artistic license, but if you want a damn good read and have an interest in one of the most glorious, and yet brutal periods in history then there is nothing better. It starts by introducing Gaius Julius, and Marcus, his friend. It follows them through their childhood into manhood. Over the years their friendship grows, and the dynamic of their relationship changes from equals to Marcus realising ...  Read the complete review

Young Gaius Caesar and his best friend Marcus cause absolute mayhem around his father’s estate. For years now they have gotten into all sorts of trouble but now their minds must be focused and it is time for them to be trained in the way of Roman warriors. While the Roman Empire continues to grow the two boys are trained by an ex Gladiator until Gaius’s father is killed during a slave revolt. Gaius is left as the man of the house and heads to Rome to learn politics from his uncle Marius, one of the greatest politicians and Generals in Rome. While the city edges towards Civil War, Gaius learns his trade, but what will become of the young Roman now he is a man, Julius ...  Read the complete review

I've been getting into historical fiction of late, which is why I picked up Gates of Rome. It's the first in a set of four books based on the life of Julius Ceasar. The first thing to note here is that this is fiction, a made up tale about historical characters. If you like your history authentic, well, it's a mixed bag. My feeling is that Conn Iggulden has done a lot of research into this, but in the interests of writing a good tale, has gone with a lot of assumptions that historians would probably be horrified by. That said, it is fiction, and pretty good fiction. Ceasar is portrayed as a powerful, engaging but ultimately human figure. Iggulden's Rome is ...  Read the complete review