- Hardcover
- Publisher: Doubleday (Jun 1965)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385053037
- ISBN-13: 978-0385053037
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.5 x 4.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,380,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
I read this book when it was first published and found it fascinating then. I recently ordered it from Amazon Marketplace to re-read it following our book club choice and discussion of 'Imperium' by Robert Harris. (I've now got to re-read that and 2 others on the life of Cicero, I think!!).
My mother introduced me to Taylor Caldwell and I have enjoyed all I have read of hers but this book in particular. I am not normally interested in politics but the life of Cicero is so compelling and at such an exciting period of change in history - Julius Caesar and his Triumvirate being almost the culmination - leading to Caesar Augustus of biblical fame.
This book is extremely well researched and although fiction has footnotes stating the sources of various 'quotes'. At times I found the style a little 'pompous' but this distracted little from the overall reading experience.
It is possible to find occasional similarities with American politics of today. It appears that what the life and times of Cicero prove is that we learn very little from past history! If you enjoy biography, history and colourful characters then this is the book for you!
My mother introduced me to Taylor Caldwell and I have enjoyed all I have read of hers but this book in particular. I am not normally interested in politics but the life of Cicero is so compelling and at such an exciting period of change in history - Julius Caesar and his Triumvirate being almost the culmination - leading to Caesar Augustus of biblical fame.
This book is extremely well researched and although fiction has footnotes stating the sources of various 'quotes'. At times I found the style a little 'pompous' but this distracted little from the overall reading experience.
It is possible to find occasional similarities with American politics of today. It appears that what the life and times of Cicero prove is that we learn very little from past history! If you enjoy biography, history and colourful characters then this is the book for you!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
18 reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Pillar of Iron rev.
11 Jan 2000
Format:Hardcover
I read Pillar of Iron some years back and, when I saw that it is still available for purchase through Amazaon, and that I could write a review of it, I decided to take advantage of both opportunities.
I recently read a reviewer's commentaries panning the book as poorly researched, based on the near fictitious relationship between Cicero and Caesar, and the spiritual slant taken on Cicero's personality (and the Romans in general) as being too "Christian".
I am no more put off by Caldwell's liberties taken with such obvious fictionalization as the two C's relationship, then I was with Schaeffer's liberties taken with those between Mozart and Sallieri. It is obvious to me that Caldwell needed to beef up the characers for fiction, and she did it in a way that brought city life in Roman times very much alive, and succeeded in portraying Cicero as a man moved more by his spirituality than by pragmatic politics, which I believe to be true, based on his own writings. From rush hour in Rome to Casesar's divorce, and the ingenious interweaving of Cicero's deeply moving original texts and landscape fiction, Caldwell's book is worthy of high praise.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Excellent book to get hooked on Roman history
17 Mar 2000
Format:Hardcover
I read this book while taking Economics in high school about 1 week ago. It was the highlight of the course. Thanks Mrs. Mara! I kick myself for not keeping a copy. It is a good story from one perspective of life in Rome. Cicero was among the first to habitually publish his writings and speeches (it was one of his greatest sources of income). However, since it is he was writing about, they were somewhat subjective. Another spin on Cicero, Caesar, and others can be found in the novels by Colleen McCullough. She begins her historical fiction tales from the time just before the birth of Cicero and Caesar and continues through the death of both. The series is several books and covers the Roman lifestyle in much greater depth. Very good reading.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
It IS categorized under "Historical Fiction"
3 Feb 2006
Format:Hardcover
You know, I do agree with the rest of the reviewers that this book is flawed in historical accuracy, in more ways than one. However, this is classified as historical fiction, therefore, I do not expect every detail to be perfect.
Rather, I wish that they could appreciate this book for its literary value. Caldwell does a wonderful job of writing in a coherent way that most should appreciate (since that can be rare, nowadays!), and learn from. She wrote her interpretaion of Cicero's life, and the city in which he lived.
By all means, do not stop learning your Roman history here! Read from different authors about different people. Is that not the beauty of our world? To enrich our minds with many sources, so as to draw our own conclusion?
I admit, I loved this book. It was an exciting and interesting read, about one of the most well known men Rome had ever seen. Try also reading "The Flames of Rome" by Paul Maier, or "The Roman Way" by Edith Hamilton. Those can give one a broader view of Roman society!
Rather, I wish that they could appreciate this book for its literary value. Caldwell does a wonderful job of writing in a coherent way that most should appreciate (since that can be rare, nowadays!), and learn from. She wrote her interpretaion of Cicero's life, and the city in which he lived.
By all means, do not stop learning your Roman history here! Read from different authors about different people. Is that not the beauty of our world? To enrich our minds with many sources, so as to draw our own conclusion?
I admit, I loved this book. It was an exciting and interesting read, about one of the most well known men Rome had ever seen. Try also reading "The Flames of Rome" by Paul Maier, or "The Roman Way" by Edith Hamilton. Those can give one a broader view of Roman society!
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