Julius Caesar is part historical figure and part legend. He was a complex individual, a brilliant politician, a successful general, an accomplished psychologist. He grew up in a world where political and military careers were inextricably intertwined, and he excelled at both. In his youth he was considered vain and a little foppish, but showed nerves of steel when he defied the Dictator Sulla – and survived. Bending to someone’s will was not in Caesar’s make-up. He came late to a position of supreme power, and though his policies embraced pragmatic, sensible measures designed to solve the problems that beset the Republic, it was his dictatorial methods rather than his ideas which caused resentment.

Unfortunately, when his assassins killed him, hoping to liberate the state from what they saw as his tyranny, they had formulated no plans for the government of the Roman world. By murdering Caesar, the assassins provoked a prolonged series of civil wars, and the rise of Augustus, the all-powerful first Emperor, who took up where Caesar left off. In this new appraisal of his life, Patricia Southern sheds light on the man behind the legend.

• Pre-publication endorsement expected from DR PETER

  JONES.

• Author is a noted expert on Roman history.
• Praise for author's last book, THE ROMAN ARMY: 'A

  judicious and open survey... enjoyable and informative' BBC

  HISTORY MAGAZINE.

• Reviews in history

  magazines, national weeklies, national daily and Sunday newspapers, to include:

  The Times and The Mail on Sunday, THES,

  and BBC History Magazine.

• Subject of the book is relevent to several

  visitor atractions including VINDOLANDA MUSEUM near Hexham (a Roman army fort

  on Hadrians Wall), BRITISH MUSEUM (holds the largest collection of Roman army

  exhibits in UK), and the ROMAN ARMY MUSEUM near Hexham.