Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic

From Publishers WeeklyAfter a palace coup demolished the reign of King Tarquin of Rome in 509 B.C., a republican government flourished, providing every person an opportunity to participate in political life in the name of liberty. As Holland, a novelist and adapter of Herodotus' Histories for British radio, points out in this lively re-creation of the republic's rise and fall, the seeds of destruction were planted in the very soil in which the early republic flourished. It was more often members of the patrician classes who had the resources to achieve political success. Such implicit class distinctions in an ostensibly classless society also gave rise to a new group of rulers who acted like monarchs. Holland chronicles the rise to power of such leaders as Sulla Felix, Pompey, Cicero and Julius Caesar. Some of these leaders, such as Pompey, appealed to the masses by expanding the republic through military conquest; others, like Cicero, worked to reinforce class distinctions. Holland points to the suppression of the Gracchian revolution-a series of reforms in favor of the poor pushed by the Gracchus brothers in the second century B.C.-as the beginning of the end of the republic, providing the context into which Julius Caesar would step with his own attempts to save the republic. As Holland points out, Caesar actually precipitated civil wars and helped to reestablish an imperial form of government in Rome. With the skill of a good novelist, Holland weaves a rip-roaring tale of political and historical intrigue as he chronicles the lively personalities and problems that led to the end of the Roman republic. Maps.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist__Starred Review__ Ancient history lives in this vivid chronicle of the tumultuous events that impelled Julius Caesar across the one small river that separated the Roman Republic from cataclysmic civil war. With the narrative talents that have established him as a prominent radio personality and novelist, Holland pulls readers deep into the treacherous riptide of Roman politics. To show how Caesar eventually masters that tide--if only temporarily--Holland first traces the bloody career of the ruthless dictator Sulla, who rescues an imperiled Republic even as he breaches its founding traditions. Those breaches deeply disturb the moralist Cato, but the indulgent luxury of a post-Sullan world suits Caesar well enough: a popular favorite, he sets the fashion in loose-fitting togas--and waits for his fated opening. Recounting Caesar's eventual seizure of power in pages as irresistibly cadenced as the legionnaires' march, Holland probes the tragic ironies that quickly expose the bold conqueror to idealistic assassins, who themselves soon perish in the rise of the Augustan Empire. Not a work for scrupulous scholars, but a richly resonant history for the general reader. __Bryce Christensen____Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved__ From Publishers Weekly After a palace coup demolished the reign of King Tarquin of Rome in 509 B.C., a republican government flourished, providing every person an opportunity to participate in political life in the name of liberty. As Holland, a novelist and adapter of Herodotus' Histories for British radio, points out in this lively re-creation of the republic's rise and fall, the seeds of destruction were planted in the very soil in which the early republic flourished. It was more often members of the patrician classes who had the resources to achieve political success. Such implicit class distinctions in an ostensibly classless society also gave rise to a new group of rulers who acted like monarchs. Holland chronicles the rise to power of such leaders as Sulla Felix, Pompey, Cicero and Julius Caesar. Some of these leaders, such as Pompey, appealed to the masses by expanding the republic through military conquest; others, like Cicero, worked to reinforce class distinctions. Holland points to the suppression of the Gracchian revolution-a series of reforms in favor of the poor pushed by the Gracchus brothers in the second century B.C.-as the beginning of the end of the republic, providing the context into which Julius Caesar would step with his own attempts to save the republic. As Holland points out, Caesar actually precipitated civil wars and helped to reestablish an imperial form of government in Rome. With the skill of a good novelist, Holland weaves a rip-roaring tale of political and historical intrigue as he chronicles the lively personalities and problems that led to the end of the Roman republic. Maps. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Starred Review Ancient history lives in this vivid chronicle of the tumultuous events that impelled Julius Caesar across the one small river that separated the Roman Republic from cataclysmic civil war. With the narrative talents that have established him as a prominent radio personality and novelist, Holland pulls readers deep into the treacherous riptide of Roman politics. To show how Caesar eventually masters that tide--if only temporarily--Holland first traces the bloody career of the ruthless dictator Sulla, who rescues an imperiled Republic even as he breaches its founding traditions. Those breaches deeply disturb the moralist Cato, but the indulgent luxury of a post-Sullan world suits Caesar well enough: a popular favorite, he sets the fashion in loose-fitting togas--and waits for his fated opening. Recounting Caesar's eventual seizure of power in pages as irresistibly cadenced as the legionnaires' march, Holland probes the tragic ironies that quickly expose the bold conqueror to idealistic assassins, who themselves soon perish in the rise of the Augustan Empire. Not a work for scrupulous scholars, but a richly resonant history for the general reader. Bryce Christensen Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Ancient,Rome,History,Rome - History - Civil War; 49-45 B.C,General

in 49 B.c., The Seven Hundred Fifth Year Since The Founding Of Rome, Julius Caesar Crossed A Small Border River Called The Rubicon And Plunged Rome Into Cataclysmic Civil War. Tom Holland’s Enthralling Account Tells The Story Of Caesar’s Generation, Witness To The Twilight Of The Republic And Its Bloody Transformation Into An Empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, And Brutus, To Cleopatra, Virgil, And Augustus, Here Are Some Of The Most Legendary Figures In History Brought Thrillingly To Life. Combining Verve And Freshness With Scrupulous Scholarship, rubicon is Not Only An Engrossing History Of This Pivotal Era But A Uniquely Resonant Portrait Of A Great Civilization In All Its Extremes Of Self-sacrifice And Rivalry, Decadence And Catastrophe, Intrigue, War, And World-shaking Ambition.

publishers Weekly

after A Palace Coup Demolished The Reign Of King Tarquin Of Rome In 509 B.c., A Republican Government Flourished, Providing Every Person An Opportunity To Participate In Political Life In The Name Of Liberty. As Holland, A Novelist And Adapter Of Herodotus' Histories For British Radio, Points Out In This Lively Re-creation Of The Republic's Rise And Fall, The Seeds Of Destruction Were Planted In The Very Soil In Which The Early Republic Flourished. It Was More Often Members Of The Patrician Classes Who Had The Resources To Achieve Political Success. Such Implicit Class Distinctions In An Ostensibly Classless Society Also Gave Rise To A New Group Of Rulers Who Acted Like Monarchs. Holland Chronicles The Rise To Power Of Such Leaders As Sulla Felix, Pompey, Cicero And Julius Caesar. Some Of These Leaders, Such As Pompey, Appealed To The Masses By Expanding The Republic Through Military Conquest; Others, Like Cicero, Worked To Reinforce Class Distinctions. Holland Points To The Suppression Of The Gracchian Revolution-a Series Of Reforms In Favor Of The Poor Pushed By The Gracchus Brothers In The Second Century B.c.-as The Beginning Of The End Of The Republic, Providing The Context Into Which Julius Caesar Would Step With His Own Attempts To Save The Republic. As Holland Points Out, Caesar Actually Precipitated Civil Wars And Helped To Reestablish An Imperial Form Of Government In Rome. With The Skill Of A Good Novelist, Holland Weaves A Rip-roaring Tale Of Political And Historical Intrigue As He Chronicles The Lively Personalities And Problems That Led To The End Of The Roman Republic. Maps. Agent, Patrick Walsh. (on Sale Feb. 17) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Recounts the fall of the Roman Republic, tracing the events that marked the final century B.C. and discussing such topics as the rise of Alexandria and the contributions of such figures as Caesar, Cleopatra, Brutus, and Augustus. In 49 B.C., the seven hundred fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland's enthralling account tells the story of Caesar's generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Augustus, here are some of the most legendary figures in history brought thrillingly to life. Combining verve and freshness with scrupulous scholarship, Rubicon is not only an engrossing history of this pivotal era but a uniquely resonant portrait of a great civilization in all its extremes of self-sacrifice and rivalry, decadence and catastrophe, intrigue, war, and world-shaking ambition One January morning, Julius Caesar, the governor of Gaul, arrived at a river named the Rubicon, which marked the frontier with Italy. A governor was forbidden to lead troops out of his province, but Caesar was a gambler. Quoting a line from one of Menander's plays: "The die is cast," he ordered his legion over the river and on toward Rome. Crossing the Rubicon has come to stand for every fateful step in history since. The result was a civil war which destroyed Rome's traditional freedoms and established a permanent dictatorship on the wreckage of its constitution. This book gives readers a harrowing account of the fall of the Republic, capturing the suspense and drama of Rome's most famous political rivalries, its vibrant and charged atmosphere, and featuring some of the most celebrated personalities in history: Caesar, Cicero, Spartacus, Cleopatra, Brutus, Pompey, Virgil.--From publisher description A vivid historical account of the social world of Rome as it moved from republic to empire. In 49 B.C., the seven hundred fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland’s enthralling account tells the story of Caesar’s generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Augustus, here are some of the most legendary figures in history brought thrillingly to life. Combining verve and freshness with scrupulous scholarship, Rubicon is not only an engrossing history of this pivotal era but a uniquely resonant portrait of a great civilization in all its extremes of self-sacrifice and rivalry, decadence and catastrophe, intrigue, war, and world-shaking ambition.