Caesar's Women - Hardcover

McCullough, Colleen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 068809371X ISBN 13: 9780688093716

Publisher: William Morrow & Co, 1996

Synopsis

The author of The Thorn Birds presents the fourth novel in the Masters of Rome series, focusing on the women in the life of the Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar at the height of his power. 100,000 first printing. Tour.

About this title

About the Author:

Colleen McCullough is the internationally acclaimed author of seven previous novels: The Thorn Birds, An Indecent Obsession, A Creed for the Third Millenium, The Ladies of Missalonghi, The First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown, and Fortune's Favorites. She lives with her husband, Ric Robinson, on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific.

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. Illustrations; maps. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 068809371X
• ISBN 13: 9780688093716
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 696