The Gates of Rome

The first volume of a sequence of novels about Julius Caesar, The Gates of Rome is at its best in its scenes of gruelling training in swordplay and dirty fighting. Iggulden's Caesar is more or less fated from the start by his circumstances to be a gifted and cynical player in the great game of Roman senatorial politics--his father is an old-fashioned servant of the public good who dies in a slave revolt. Young Caesar finds himself having to hit the ground running--family alliances throw him onto the losing side in a battle for power between generals Marius and Sulla.

One reservation about Iggulden's story is that he simplifies the pushing and shoving of Rome's two most powerful men to a degree that makes Caesar's choices and loyalties too simple--this is a version of Rome in which politics is only about power and never about ideas. Caesar's friendship with his blood-brother Marcus is too redolent with historical irony--Marcus will be his assassin--and Iggulden is a little novelette-ish in his portrayal of young Caesar's affairs of the heart. This is a competent, routine account of material that deserves better than this handling of it. --Roz Kaveney

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Really good Read - Rated
This book is great if you don't want EXACT historical fact, but after all it IS a novel.
The research is excellent and Iggulden's descriptions of gladiatorial combat and what the streets of Rome were actually like ( filthy, unwholesome, etc.) despite the glorious buildings is extremely good. This is the first of his books which I have read and I shall certainly read the rest of this series and maybe his other works too.

Read it - I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Not what i normally read but very good - Rated
I'm normally into thriler books but read the first few pages on AMazon and thought it'd be a good book - i wasn't wrong! It has a great story and memorable characters. I can't believe the books are being criticised for not being historically accurate as this was not the authors intention - he wanted to write a gripping story based on some historical accuracies and in this regard he succeeded.

I've already started the second book out of the 4 (the death of kings) and the good news in it's as good as the first. No doubt soon i'll buy/read books 3 and 4 and then start on the conquerer series about Hanibal.

Recommended

Enjoyable read - Rated
I read this book hoping to learn a bit about Caesar as well as reading an enjoyable story. After reading the reviews on amazon, it seems that the book is very historically inaccurate, therefore reviewing it as a complete fictional story - I found it thoroughly enjoyable. It was fast paced and exciting. Although in some places it lacked some depth - for example his love for Cornelia seemed to appear out of nowhere. The only disappointment I found was the ending - as there was none. It is obviously intended for the reader to continue the story with the following books, but I find this a bit cheeky, as although there can be sequels to books, each book should really conclude in itself.

fantasy book - Rated
I was disappointed. This book should be in the teenage boy section. It quickly became apparent I was reading a Lord of the Rings type book, a genre I can't stand.

One of the most enjoyable books ive read - Rated
This is a great book, a great piece of historical fiction. Conn Igguldens style of story telling makes this a page-turner and I have never before read a book so easy to get into. Im no great reader of books but I finished this in no time. Best book ive read in a long time. I have now read all the follow-up books and the sequels are just as good. A must for all fans of historical fiction.