Hail Caesar? No looks more like reign! (Emperor: The Gods of War - Conn Iggulden)

Member Name: sparkymarky1973

Product:	Emperor: The Gods of War - Conn Iggulden
Date:	27/08/06 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A terrific end to a truly brilliant series

Disadvantages: Leaves you hungry for more books about the Roman Empire

The Gods Of War is the final climatic novel in the highly acclaimed Emperor series that follows the life and times of Gaius Julius Caesar from his early childhood through to his assassination in the streets of his beloved Rome.One of the best books in the series,The Gods Of War is full of epic battles as Caesar and his Legions travel to the furthest reaches of the Roman Empire through Greece,Asia Minor and finally to Egypt before returning home.

The novel begins with Caesar being summoned back to Rome alone by Pompey following a lengthy campaign in Gaul that has taken him to Britain and back.Pompey-once an ally,now Caesar's nemesis-sees Caesar as a threat to his dictatorship and plans to have him assassinated on his journey home.Unfortunately the man Pompey chooses to do this evil deed has been with Caesar through much of his recent campaign in Gaul and has swapped alleigance with whom he now feels most loyal.Instead of coming alone,now Caesar decides to return to Rome to end Pompey's long dictatorship and restore his earlier position as Consul,bringing with him the full force of his armies.

Pompey,realising his forces in Rome are outnumbered,flees the city with the Senate and their families-taking refuge in Greece where he can summon more men to his cause.Julius wins back the city and,leaving its safety in the hands of Mark Anthony,pursues Pompey with the aim of winning back the Legions loyal to his enemy through mis-direction and propaganda rather than all out war;reluctant as he is to wage battle on forces loyal to Rome.

Set around the same time period as the recent mini-series on BBC2,Rome and covering the same events,this book has less of a soap opera feel to it than the series(though I will be the first to admit I did really enjoy this on BBC2)and is much more involving for the most part probably because you have been following Caesar for so long that you almost feel as though you are there with him by now.This final novel is full of the many strategies and battles that took place between Caesar and Pompey as friends fall-out,swap alleigances and are re-united;battles are fought,lost and won and many thousands die at the hands of Fate and the Gods;both of whom struggle to decide who shall finally govern the Roman Empire.The numerous battle scenes are very well written and involving and Iggulden even comes up with a believable explanation for why Pompey may not have finished off Caesar when he had the chance.

Of course those who know their history know exactly how it all ends but for those of us who are less academic,part of the fun is discovering revelations we have only briefly touched upon before in history class at school.This series of novels about Caesar's life are some of the finest I have ever read and has introduced me to a genre I have not really touched upon before-that of the historical novel.I really feel now as though I know more about Caesar and his life than I did and have found these books a real pleasure to devour.The characters are strong and well written,the detail hgighly researched and any facts that have been changed to assist the flow of the story are fully explained at the end of each novel in a helpful afterword by the author.

Conn Iggulden's next work apparently is going to look at Genghis Khan but he hints at this novels end that he may at some stage return to Rome to explore again the history of the Roman Empire following Caesar's death.Personally I am not sure which I am more looking forward to.A brilliant end to an epic,climatic series that fully deserves all the acclaim it has earned....I have found trhese an enjoyable,educational and inspirational read!!

If you have never read a historical novel before but like me are fascinated by the mighty Roman Empire then I fully reccommend you pick these novels up.Easy to read,not too heavy-going and full of battle,betrayal and journeys across the globe,these novels have it all.Like the hype says-"if you loved Gladiator,you'll love these" and they're right-these novels are well worth any money you spend on them!!!

Summary: Caesar pursues Pompey across the Roman Empire and beyond in a series of climatic battles....