F E Adcock

Originally published in 1956, this book presents a concise account regarding the Commentaries of Julius Caesar, written by the renowned Cambridge classical historian Sir Frank Adcock (1886–1968). The text begins by discussing the form and purpose of the Commentaries, before moving on to their relationship with Caesar's personality and his interpretation of military conflict. Later chapters offer answers in response to the scholarly debate surrounding Caesar's writings and summarise other works relating to his campaigns. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in ancient history and the works of Caesar.

A study of Roman politics from the early kings, through the Republic, to the age of the dictatorships. The story unfolds against a background of wars, financial tangles, shifting foreign policy, and personal rivalries. Sir Frank finds the secret of Roman power in the dignity of its great men and the liberty of the small. Though centuries have elapsed since the Caesars, we need not look far to discover in our own day the same conflicts between personal ambition and the dream of peace with dignity that consumed Rome. This book underscores the fragility of all political institutions, including our own.