Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Helsingissä : Otava, 2006.
Description
Fiction. Literature. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:Rarely, if ever, does a new writer dazzle us with such a vivid imagination and storytelling, flawlessly capturing the essence of a land, a people, a legend. Conn Iggulden is just such a writer, bringing to vivid life one of the most fascinating eras in human history. In a true masterpiece of historical fiction, Iggulden takes us on a breathtaking journey through ancient Rome, sweeping us into a realm of tyrants and slaves, of dark intrigues and seething passions. What emerges is both a grand romantic tale of coming-of-age in the Roman Empire and a vibrant portrait of the early years of a man who would become the most powerful ruler on earth: Julius Caesar. On the lush Italian peninsula, a new empire is taking shape. At its heart is the city of Rome, a place of glory and decadence, beauty and bloodshed. Against this vivid backdrop, two boys are growing to manhood, dreaming of battles, fame, and glory in service of the mightiest empire the world has ever known. One is the son of a senator, a boy of privilege and ambition to whom much has been given and from whom much is expected. The other is a bastard child, a boy of strength and cunning, whose love for his adoptive family�??and his adoptive brother�??will be the most powerful force in his life. As young Gaius and Marcus are trained in the art of combat�??under the tutelage of one of Rome�??s most fearsome gladiators�??Rome itself is being rocked by the art of treachery and ambition, caught in a tug-of-war as two rival generals, Marius and Sulla, push the empire toward civil war. For Marcus, a bloody campaign in Greece will become a young soldier�??s proving ground. For Gaius, the equally deadly infighting of the Roman Senate will be the battlefield where he hones his courage and skill. And for both, the love of an extraordinary slave girl will be an honor each will covet but only one will win. The two friends are forced to walk different paths, and by the time they meet again everything will have changed. Both will have known love, loss, and violence. And the land where they were once innocent will be thrust into the grip of bitter conflict�??a conflict that will set Roman against Roman . . . and put their friendship to the ultimate test. Brilliantly interweaving history and adventure, Conn Iggulden conjures a stunning array of contrasts�??from the bloody stench of a battlefield to the opulence of the greatest city in history, from the tenderness of a lover to the treachery of an assassin. Superbly rendered, grippingly told, Emperor, The Gates of Rome is a work of vaulting imagination from a powerful new voic… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Duvodas
One of the best books I've read. If you're not too much concerned about historical accuracy and rather enjoy a well-told story, then this book is definetly for you.
LibraryThing member viking2917
A solid, rousing adventure tale of ancient Rome. I'm embarrassed to admit how long it took me to realize the main character is the young Julius Caesar. Historically inaccurate in places (as the author admits), nonetheless it is really good fun.
LibraryThing member Brior
De-informative rubbish. Write fantasy if you can't stick to historical facts.
LibraryThing member majkia
I was surprised to read that this was Conn Iggulden's first novel. He did a bang up job as a new novelist.
He begins the story of Julius Caesar when Julius was still a child living on his father's minor estate. From there we follow him, and his childhood companion Marcus into the city of Rome and
Julius remains in the city and is taken under the wing of his mother's brother, a consul of Rome and a great General.
But Julius's life is thrown into doubt when Marius and his rival General Sulla, fight over Rome itself.
Colorful and nicely written, the time, the city and the boys come to life.
He begins the story of Julius Caesar when Julius was still a child living on his father's minor estate. From there we follow him, and his childhood companion Marcus into the city of Rome and
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their immersion into the politics and the pitfalls of the city. Young Marcus, with no money of his own, and no family to help him rise, is the fist to join the legions and head out to make his name in the military.Julius remains in the city and is taken under the wing of his mother's brother, a consul of Rome and a great General.
But Julius's life is thrown into doubt when Marius and his rival General Sulla, fight over Rome itself.
Colorful and nicely written, the time, the city and the boys come to life.
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LibraryThing member oparaxenos
This was my first shot at reading Conn Iggulden. By the author's own admission, the story is historically inaccurate, but boy what a read! I found this book hard to put down, despite its formulaic plot. I will definitely be looking for the next one in the series.
LibraryThing member sandymom
Please don't read this book if you require your historical fiction to be historical.
LibraryThing member N7DR
It takes a peculiar kind of confidence to attempt a novel set in a period, and whose protagonist, has already received a spectacular treatment in fiction.
Unfortunately, this author's confidence is sadly misplaced. Indeed, one has to wonder what the publisher was thinking when it brazenly describes
This is hardly the first book in which I have lost count of the number of sentences that I had to re-read, usually several times, to try to discern what information the author was actually intending to convey, but that never makes the annoyance any the less.
The tenor of the book was well represented by the first few pages (I kept hoping for improvement; it never came), in which, apart from the Roman names, the action as described [the relevance of which to the plot never became clear, at least to me] might as well have occurred in medieval England as in first century Rome. It was impossible not to contrast this with the first few pages of McCullough's "First Man in Rome", in which one is instantly taken to a time and place one could never mistake as being anything other than ancient Rome.
One final, but, I think, telling point (spoiler ahead, so don't keep reading if you intend to read this book). The final words of the novel seem to suggest strongly that Caesar's childhood playmate and best friend in this book, named merely as "Marcus" throughout the book, is actually Marcus Brutus -- the Brutus who would later take part in the assassination of Caesar. This is quite a surprise, as the real Brutus was adopted by his uncle, not Caesar's father; and, even more tellingly, Brutus was some fifteen years Caesar's junior. The author does not deign to address this point in "Historical Note" at the end of the book -- a note in which he, perhaps less surprisingly, also does not mention McCullough's work.
I have given this book two stars, but only because I reserve one-star ratings for books that I can't finish. This one was rather like watching a slowly unfolding accident that should never have happened... I kept thinking that it would have to improve, and that I must just be missing some basic piece of brilliance that explained why the publishers thought this a worthwhile addition to the territory covered by McCullough. So I made it to the end (and the bizarre revelation of Marcus' identity); but I certainly don't intend to subject myself to any of the sequels.
Unfortunately, this author's confidence is sadly misplaced. Indeed, one has to wonder what the publisher was thinking when it brazenly describes
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this in the book's blurb as "The Ultimate Rome Story". Colleen McCullough this is not. If one hopes to read this book to gain insights into life in ancient Rome, or indeed the life of Gaius Julius Caesar in particular, one will be sorely disappointed ... as one will be if one merely expects a well-written, tightly plotted action story set in a time long ago. This is hardly the first book in which I have lost count of the number of sentences that I had to re-read, usually several times, to try to discern what information the author was actually intending to convey, but that never makes the annoyance any the less.
The tenor of the book was well represented by the first few pages (I kept hoping for improvement; it never came), in which, apart from the Roman names, the action as described [the relevance of which to the plot never became clear, at least to me] might as well have occurred in medieval England as in first century Rome. It was impossible not to contrast this with the first few pages of McCullough's "First Man in Rome", in which one is instantly taken to a time and place one could never mistake as being anything other than ancient Rome.
One final, but, I think, telling point (spoiler ahead, so don't keep reading if you intend to read this book). The final words of the novel seem to suggest strongly that Caesar's childhood playmate and best friend in this book, named merely as "Marcus" throughout the book, is actually Marcus Brutus -- the Brutus who would later take part in the assassination of Caesar. This is quite a surprise, as the real Brutus was adopted by his uncle, not Caesar's father; and, even more tellingly, Brutus was some fifteen years Caesar's junior. The author does not deign to address this point in "Historical Note" at the end of the book -- a note in which he, perhaps less surprisingly, also does not mention McCullough's work.
I have given this book two stars, but only because I reserve one-star ratings for books that I can't finish. This one was rather like watching a slowly unfolding accident that should never have happened... I kept thinking that it would have to improve, and that I must just be missing some basic piece of brilliance that explained why the publishers thought this a worthwhile addition to the territory covered by McCullough. So I made it to the end (and the bizarre revelation of Marcus' identity); but I certainly don't intend to subject myself to any of the sequels.
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LibraryThing member sirfurboy
Wonderful!
This series will delight you whether you care about the history of Julius Caesar or not! Iggulden writes with a passion, and has a rare ability to draw you in and through a story.
But take care. The author messes a bit with history. In later works in the series he tells you how, but here
As a story it works though, and it really works very very well. Forgive the historical inaccuracies (there are not so many of these. The most notable is the way Marcus Brutus and Julius Caesar are made to be the same age, and even grow up in the same home), and enjoy being transported into a believable ancient Roman adventure that will keep you reading to the last page of the last book.
This series will delight you whether you care about the history of Julius Caesar or not! Iggulden writes with a passion, and has a rare ability to draw you in and through a story.
But take care. The author messes a bit with history. In later works in the series he tells you how, but here
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there are things that you are told that do not stack up. As a story it works though, and it really works very very well. Forgive the historical inaccuracies (there are not so many of these. The most notable is the way Marcus Brutus and Julius Caesar are made to be the same age, and even grow up in the same home), and enjoy being transported into a believable ancient Roman adventure that will keep you reading to the last page of the last book.
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LibraryThing member MJWebb
This guy is now my favourite author. He always pulls you into the storyline with effortless ease. I feel I know the characters and want to grab a sword to fight alongside them. His Civil War books were excellent but this series promises to be even better and I've already started book 2.
LibraryThing member lorelorn_2007
Conn Iggulden convincingly recreates the Roman Empire of around 90BC to show us the life of a young Julius Caesar. The characters and settings are convincing and compelling.
The author furthermore informs the reader at the end of how much of the book is historical, what historical licenses were
I'm looking forward to the next book.
The author furthermore informs the reader at the end of how much of the book is historical, what historical licenses were
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taken and what elements are entirely fictional. I'm looking forward to the next book.
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LibraryThing member Shuffy2
Two boys grow up together on the outskirts of mighty Rome- one is the son of a senator and the other a bastard. The brotherly-like bond they share shapes their future but will things turn out as they plan?
Gaius and Marcus have each other’s back; they fight the other’s fight. The two boys even
I didn’t realize when I purchased the book that it was the first book in a series; I also did not read the back closely to make the connection. I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book immensely, but the last few chapters seemed to drag for me. That said, Iggulden’s novel is still worth reading and I would recommend it (even though it is not completely historically accurate).
Gaius and Marcus have each other’s back; they fight the other’s fight. The two boys even
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stick together when Renius the gladiator arrives to instruct them in the art of combat and makes their young lives more miserable than they could imagine. Tubruk, the hired overseer of the estate, seems to be their only ally and even he is an old legionary, scarred from hundreds of battles as a gladiator. But it isn’t until the boy's lives intersect with another, one who has a profound influence on their young lives, that thier futures are altered from their course. Rome will change them forever...I didn’t realize when I purchased the book that it was the first book in a series; I also did not read the back closely to make the connection. I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book immensely, but the last few chapters seemed to drag for me. That said, Iggulden’s novel is still worth reading and I would recommend it (even though it is not completely historically accurate).
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LibraryThing member BruderBane
Conn Iggulden’s first foray into authorship with the novel “Emperor: The Gates of Rome” is laden with a number of missteps and stilted writing. I especially did not enjoy the pseudo-magical powers bestowed upon a major character, I felt it discredited the story with a historical inaccuracy it
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would not be able to recover from. That being said, Mr. Iggulden breaks away with a burst of frenetic and provocative storytelling in the last quarter of the novel that peaked my curiosity so much so, that I may pick up the next novel. This last section is where Mr. Iggulden’s writing truly shines and I hope he perseveres and continues the momentum into the next volume. Show Less
LibraryThing member joelshults
I won this book as a First Reads giveaway and I really enjoyed it. I've been reading a lot of heavy and somewhat disturbing books lately and this was a nice change of pace. It probably isn't a book I would've picked up on my own, but I'm glad I read it. That's the great thing about book giveaways
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and sometimes just reading what falls into your lap, you might discover something new. The Gates of Rome is an exciting, swashbuckling novel about the childhood and early adulthood of Julius Ceasar. The characters are great and I'm definitely going to pick up the other 3 books in the series to see how this turns out. Show Less
LibraryThing member joelshults
I won this book as a First Reads giveaway and I really enjoyed it. I've been reading a lot of heavy and somewhat disturbing books lately and this was a nice change of pace. It probably isn't a book I would've picked up on my own, but I'm glad I read it. That's the great thing about book giveaways
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and sometimes just reading what falls into your lap, you might discover something new. The Gates of Rome is an exciting, swashbuckling novel about the childhood and early adulthood of Julius Ceasar. The characters are great and I'm definitely going to pick up the other 3 books in the series to see how this turns out. Show Less
LibraryThing member WillieD
Brillant! I would not normally read a book that quickly but i couldn't put this one down! I ended up reading the entire series in 3 weeks. (Amazing for me). Reminds me of David Gemmell at his best. Makes me want to know more about ancient rome.
LibraryThing member Neilsantos
Liked it a lot. The author is sort of relying on you to not be smart enough to recognize who his two main characters are, which I suppose is a little insulting, but if I got angry at everyone who insulted me, I wouldn't have any time to read. It read well and I'm looking forward to the rest of
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them. The author has a really good voice to his writing, a lot of it is rather like Calvin and Hobbes. How is a book on Rome like a newspaper cartoon? The two kids that are the main characters spend a lot of their time wandering through the woods figuring things out. Except of course, one of them isn't a stuffed tiger. Show Less
LibraryThing member CliffBurns
The first and best book in Iggulden's EMPEROR series.
The early days of Caesar, recounted with few bells and whistles by a dependable, unpretentious author. A great story, well-told. Along with Stephen Pressfield and Michael Curtis Ford, Iggulden is among the best of a current crop of writers
The early days of Caesar, recounted with few bells and whistles by a dependable, unpretentious author. A great story, well-told. Along with Stephen Pressfield and Michael Curtis Ford, Iggulden is among the best of a current crop of writers
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devoted to creating authentic and gripping historical fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarkHardy
History meets fantasy
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good page turner and I found the Roman world was painted well. That said, I'm not sure it meets with the history so well - personally I don't care, but pedantic historians may feel otherwise.
On the negative side, the second half of the
I also didn't feel like I really walked away with anything.
In short a good page turned with not much depth. A fun read none the less.
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good page turner and I found the Roman world was painted well. That said, I'm not sure it meets with the history so well - personally I don't care, but pedantic historians may feel otherwise.
On the negative side, the second half of the
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book felt a bit rushed maybe he wanted to fit it all into one book when it really should have been two. It's not such a big issue though.I also didn't feel like I really walked away with anything.
In short a good page turned with not much depth. A fun read none the less.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
This is a fictional account of the early life of Julius Caesar and his friend Brutus. We see how young men were raised and trained to become soldiers for the Roman army. When young he was known as Gaius and was the son of a wealthy land owner and politician. Marcus (Brutus) was an orphan taken in
While Caesar's early life is not well recorded, life at the time is and this is where this book stands out. Details of the slave revolt and the battle over Rome between Marius and Sulla bring these events to life as well as the details of every day life.
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by Gaius' father and the two grew up side by side. When Gaius' father was killed in a slave revolt he went to live with his uncle, Marius, a general of the army known as First Bloods. Marcus went to Greece to join the Roman forces there with Renius, the old gladiator who trained the two boys.While Caesar's early life is not well recorded, life at the time is and this is where this book stands out. Details of the slave revolt and the battle over Rome between Marius and Sulla bring these events to life as well as the details of every day life.
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LibraryThing member mont1ms
This book was very readable and enjoyable. I cannot like the way he has messed with historical facts, but I will certainly read more by this author.
LibraryThing member mont1ms
This book was very readable and enjoyable. I cannot like the way he has messed with historical facts, but I will certainly read more by this author.
LibraryThing member jmoncton
The Gates of Rome is the starting book of Iggulden's Emperor series that chronicles the life of Julius Caesar. This first book takes us from Julius' childhood growing up with Marcus Brutus (yes, of 'et tu Brute' fame!), until he joins a Roman legion in Greece during his late teens. Although the
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description of everyday Roman life was interesting, it didn't have the same impact of the might and power of the Roman Empire that I found in the 3rd and 4th books. Well narrated though and definitely worth a listen. Show Less
LibraryThing member mont1ms
This book was very readable and enjoyable. I cannot like the way he has messed with historical facts, but I will certainly read more by this author.
LibraryThing member Markthenils
Exciting and interesting description of a young Caesar and his way into the military life.
LibraryThing member bdtrump
Iggulden's work is a complex albeit highly fictionalized account of Caesar's early life. A solid beginning to a highly enjoyable series. Iggulden readily admits he is flexible with his history, which admittedly can be distracting at times. However, if you're willing to leave your history book
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closed and read with an open mind, you won't be disappointed. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
428 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
9511201808 / 9789511201809