Civil War I and II

Julius Caesar's own narrative of the opening year of the Civil War between himself and Pompey is the only surviving account from the classical world of such a conflict written by one of the principals. The apparent clarity of the narrative, and the limpidity and economy of Caesar's style, in fact conceal a tendentious presentation of both his own and his opponent’s motives, actions and competence. The influence of dramatic structures on the selection and combination of events related by Caesar is also important. The commentary therefore aims to elucidate not only matters directly referred to in the text, but the whole context of their presentation. Latin text with facing-page translation, introduction and commentary. First published in 1991, the paperback was reprinted with minor corrections in 2003.

John Carter retired from a Senior Lectureship at Royal Holloway, University of London in 1992. His most recent translation is the Greek historian Appian's account of the Roman Civil Wars (1996).