- Hardcover: 416 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (6 Jan 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007136897
- ISBN-13: 978-0007136896
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.7 x 4.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 35,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Emperor: The Gates of Rome (Emperor 1)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
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
Review
‘Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction’ Daily Mirror
‘A brilliant story – I wish I’d written it. A novel of vivid characters, stunning action and unrelenting pace. It really is a terrific read.’
BERNARD CORNWELL
‘The descriptions of combat in the circus, slaves in revolt, skirmishes in Greece, amputations and street fighting are all convincing.’
TLS
‘A rich and compelling novel that draws the reader into an extraordinary time and the life of an extraordinary man.’
DAVID GEMMELL
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First Sentence
The track in the woods was a wide causeway to the two boys strolling down it. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
The track in the woods was a wide causeway to the two boys strolling down it. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
What you need to understand is this series of books are a fictitious story loosely based on facts. As with TV histories for films and dramas facts are adapted to make the story more gripping and readable. If you want a book that is purely facts then don't buy this, buy a textbook written by a historian. These books are excellent if you bear in mind they are not out to get the facts clear and right; instead they are out to produce a good story that is based on the life of one of the most famous Roman Emperors, Gaius Julius Caesar.
The story is good, it is interesting and would satisfy any reader who loves a good story. This book has good descriptions of the people and places of Rome, which help to create a clear picture in your mind of what is going on and what life was like during those times.
The story is good, it is interesting and would satisfy any reader who loves a good story. This book has good descriptions of the people and places of Rome, which help to create a clear picture in your mind of what is going on and what life was like during those times.
81 of 87 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have always been a keen reader of historically "based" books and my only slight disappointment is that this book does not so much rely historical fact as "bend" it to fit in with the book's story. But the author - even at his ending historical note - never pretends that this is the "definitive" narrative of one of history's most famous figures .
Never the less, this was a very enjoyable adventure which follows the growing up of two young Roman boys living on the outskirts of a turbulent Rome....from their early lives up until they go their separate ways, one into the political intrigue of the Roman Senate and the other to fight in one of Rome's far flung legions. It would be a good read for anyone who has enjoyed Cornwell's novels, and even for those interested in fantasy and / or non fictional works. The mixes humour with tradgedy, affection with war, and there is enough adventure in there to keep the reader flying through the book.
If you are a person who enjoys a little escapism in their novels, and wants a good book with Sharpesque swash and buckle, then buy this book. If you are looking for pure fact then buy something from the non fiction section. I didn't watch Gladiator for it's historical content and I didn't buy this book for that either!!
And by the way, my whole reading experience was slightly tarnished by one Amazon "reviewer" who decided to give away all the details of the two main characters in the book in his review. This definitely takes the "kick" out of the ending. Please try not to do this!! there are readers out there who want to read the book prior to knowing all the plot twists!!!
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Gates of Rome is the first novel in the Emperor series written by the ex-English teacher Conn Iggulden. Unfortunately my first impression was unfavourable, a comparison with the 'blockbuster' movie Gladiator. The cover features a gladiator's helmet and quotes The Times, 'If you liked Gladiator, you'll love Emperor'. However The Gates of Rome is no mere Hollywood distraction like the previously mentioned Gladiator, the recent Troy, and the soon to be released Alexander. Instead it is a true historical epic with fewer gladiators than the cover would have you believe (however for those who look for such things, the occasional gladiator does appear). It is an instant classic with all the depth and passion that you would associate with one.
Emperor: The Gates of Rome is the story of two young boys, Gaius and Marcus, who are destined to become two of the greatest Romans, who are still, even today, house-hold names. Cleverly and well written, the story hides the identities of the two boys until well into the book. The reader is continually drawn into the story with Conn Iggulden's descriptive style evoking the ancient Roman world incredibly well. We are taken from the rural farm of Gaius and Marcus's youth into the opulent Rome with all the excitements of gladiatorial games, political manoeuvrings of the senate and the deadliness of war. We follow the boys on the early steps of their careers, Gaius as a senator and Marcus as a legionary, both hoping to one day to make their impact on the Rome they love so much.
The Gates of Rome is incredibly well written, although this is sometimes achieved at the cost of historical accuracy. However, this is excusable, as all the changes made improve the plot and the passage of the story. In fact, the whole story is so well written that the 600 and so pages are consumed far too quickly, leaving you with only a single consolation; that there are two more books already published and hopefully more on the way.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great read
After reading Conn Igguldens conqueror series i went for this emporer series its just as good a fantastic story that flows page after page.
Published 11 hours ago by jez
I learn more and interesting too
I did not realise histiry could be made so interesting. particularly in novel form. THIS AUTHOR HAS A FAULT- AS SOON AS ONE STARTS READING HIS BOOKS YOU JUST CANT STOP!!!!
Published 11 days ago by D. H. Haynes
Emperor - The Gates of Rome
Truely compelling reading, good insight to GJC early years. Felt that I was actually part of the story. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Sue Forbes
a great read at a great price
I've enjoyed a number of this author's books. Fantastic story telling and, on a Kindle, in an easily digestible format. Read more
Published 27 days ago by P. Roderick
Expected a little better
Having read 3 of this authors 'Genghis Khan' books perhaps I had very high hopes, as they were all superb. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Simon Bachman
I tried, i really did
I picked this book up some time ago in a fit of boredom at the supermarket, and I've tried 3 times to get past the first 2 chapters, but I can't, I just can't. Read more
Published 1 month ago by amysrainbow
The opening book of four....
This book is a good read about the early life of Julius Ceaser and his close friend Marcus Brutus. It takes you from child hood to the involvement in a short lived civil war fought... Read more
Published 1 month ago by TVR-Andy
Easy read, and a page turner
This was my bedtime read for a week. A few reviewers have complained that the book is not historically accurate. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anthony Lauder
An excellent read
This book was one that I could not put down, the author is very good at creating the atmosphere of ancient roman life surrounding the young Julius Ceasar, enthraling.
Published 8 months ago by john
Sadism and slaughter: Blood and guts: Not much else
This is a fast moving adventure story based on an imaginary account of the life of the young Julius Caesar. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dr. W. H. Konarzewski
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