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This thread is the introductory thread for one of the group book selections: Caesar's Women by Colleen McCullough. This was a group selected series.

This book discussion was kicked off today April 16, 2012.

This book discussion will be kicked off today April 16, 2012. This will be an historical fiction book discussion and will be led by Vicki Cline.

His victories were legend -- in battle and bedchamber alike. Love was a political weapon he wielded cunningly and ruthlessly in his private war against enemies in the forum. Genius, general, patrician, Gaius Julius Caesar "was" history. His wives bought him influence. He sacrificed his beloved daughter on the alter of ambition. He burned for the cold-hearted mistress he could never dare trust. Caesar's women all knew -- and feared -- his power. He adored them, used them, destroyed them on his irresistible rise to prominence. And one of them would seal his fate.

by Colleen McCullough

Reviews and about the author:

From Publishers Weekly

Senator and debtor, general and seducer, orator and would-be world conqueror, Julius Caesar, as depicted in this fourth installment (after Fortune's Favorites) in McCullough's epic re-creation of ancient Rome, is both a force of nature and something of a momma's boy.

He worships his sophisticated mother Aurelia, "a fount of experience and a mine of common sense," while dismissing as "not important" his "expensive, idle, and monumentally silly" second wife, Pompeia.

Its title notwithstanding, this marvelously researched and detailed novel focuses on traditional male pursuits-political intrigue, war, conquest-in the corruption-riddled late Roman republic even as it elucidates the behind-the-scenes influence of women in a repressively patriarchal society.

Caesar, though tenderly loving and protective toward his daughter, Julia, pledges her as a child to the adolescent Brutus, with whose mother-the cruel, scheming Servilia-the future dictator of Rome has a purely sexual affair.

Years later, Caesar cancels the betrothal in order to use his blossoming daughter as bait to forge a political alliance with the commander of the Roman legions.

Meanwhile, Cicero, Caesar's main rival, is portrayed as an incurable vacillator and social climber who displays scant gratitude toward his "sour" and "ugly" wife, Terentia, despite her foiling a conspiracy against his life.

With great brio, and ample attention to Roman customs and rites, as well as to the religious, sexual and social institutions of the day, including slavery, McCullough captures the driven, passionate soul of ancient Rome.

From Library Journal

In the fourth book in her "Masters of Rome" series, McCullough (Fortune's Favorites) details Caesar's rise to power from 68-58 B.C.

Caesar repeatedly outmaneuvers his enemies, who devise one scheme after another to bring about his political, economic, and social downfall.

Eventually he allies himself with Pompey and Crassus to create a formidable triumverate.

Despite the book's title, women play minor roles in the novel. Caesar consults his shrewd mother about strategy and depends on her to manage his household. He adores his daughter and misses her dead mother. Nonetheless, he consistently subordinates personal affection to political ambition, seducing the wives of his rivals and maintaining an emotional distance from his own wives and lovers. McCullough crams the book with details about Roman life and politics and includes many pages of notes and a glossary.

Those readers following the series and others with an intense interest in the time period will enjoy this installment.

From Booklist

The fourth installment in McCullough's popular ancient Rome series follows Fortune's Favorites.

The author continues her sweep through Roman history during the declining days of the republic as it heads into the imperial era.

McCullough has now arrived at the pivotal point: the rule of Julius Caesar, who, though he refused to wear a crown, ruled with a controlling hand, presaging the advent of men who had no problem calling themselves emperors.

Although McCullough's dialogue remains as wooden as ever, her abundance of interesting background detail and her decent ability to impart human dimensions to historical figures sustain interest.

Potboiler stuff, but her fans will like it, as will readers of lightweight historical fiction who haven't read her before.

Reviews:

"CRAMMED WITH PAINSTAKING DETAIL.ITS SWEEP IS PANORAMIC" -- -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"EPIC ...Marvelously researched and detailed ...With great brio ... McCullough capturesthe driven, passionate soul of ancient Rome." -- -- Publishers Weekly

"McCullough is terrific...Her characters quiver with life." -- -- The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Colleen McCullough enjoys worldwide renown, and her novels are bestsellers in a multitude of languages.

She is the author of The Thorn Birds, Tim, An Indecent Obsession, A Creed for the Third Millennium, The Ladies of Missalonghi, The First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown, Fortunes Favorites, as well as Caesars Women.

She lives with her husband, Ric Robinson, on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific.



all by Colleen McCullough

I've ordered the book... hope it arrives soon. I've been wanting to read it. I'll join in the discussion soon, I hope.

Great, Marilee. We'll be looking for you.

I want to say to first time readers of this series, I hope you're not put off by how long the books are. I started with The First Man in Rome after reading a review of it, and I was floored at its size. Then I sent away for books 2-4 and again, was stunned at how big the books were. But they are so readable, you just want to find out what happens next. I don't know of another period in history with so many fascinating characters.

by Colleen McCullough

I just bought the book (not available at my library), and hope to be able to catch up. Let me start by saying, I love maps, and so was hooked the moment I opened the book. The length is daunting, however.

Yes, it always looks daunting but it such a quick reading book - you will see.

Well, as I mentioned before, my library had no copy of this book. But after I dropped off some books--and picked some up--there yesterday, I went to see if the used bookstore across the street had a copy. I looked first in the paperbacks while one of the assistants went to the hardcovers. I was out of luck, but the assistant found me a copy that looks totally new, with the cover in mylar. I paid $7.50 for it, but it's worth it. I'm just finishing up another book--I don't want to get 16th C. Iran mixed up with Caesarean Rome--and then I'll get at it.

Love those end-paper maps!! I'm a map- as well as history-fan.

Sigrun you are very fortunate. Kindle has copies as well but you have done one even better by finding a used version that is just like new. Terrific.

Yes, G and Sigrun, the maps are great. They are best in the hardcover versions as the paperback ones are a bit too reduced. I have to look at them with a magnifying glass sometimes. (I bought hardcover copies of the first three in the series just to get better maps.) I believe McCullough has drawn them herself, as well as the drawings that begin each chapter.