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The Gates of Rome (Emperor)
  
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The Gates of Rome (Emperor) (Paperback)

by Conn Iggulden (Author) "The track in the woods was a wide causeway to the two boys strolling down it ..." (more)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; New Ed edition (6 Jan 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007147384
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007147380
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)

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Product Description

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

BERNARD CORNWELL

‘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.’
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Customer Reviews

124 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (124 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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68 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars If you want a little escapism in your day!, 4 Nov 2003
This review is from: Emperor: The Gates of Rome (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!!!

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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historic Novel Well Worth the Read., 21 Mar 2005
By DDS - See all my reviews
  
This review is from: Emperor: The Gates of Rome (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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33 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars best historical novel I've read in ages!, 4 Nov 2003
This review is from: Emperor: The Gates of Rome (Paperback)
The Gates of Rome is a fantastic read which centres around the young lives of two of Romes most famous historical figures, which cleverly the identities of which the author manages to conceal until well into the book. It vividly recreates and brings to life a world which has long since been lost, from Igguldens descriptions of battles, family life, political life and even architecture, of which nothing more remains today except ruins.
As I am a historian, (though specialising in medieval history, I am not an expert in ancient Rome,) the added strength of this book is that it is set in an era which is seldom portrayed either in literature or art, except in the history books of university libraries. The scene is set during the times of struggle between the two great consuls of Rome, Marius and Sulla not long before the demise of the great Roman Republic and the return to kingship and the era of the emperors. This stage in Rome's history is fascinating.
Due to the events taking place around 2 millenia ago, many fine details and facts cannot be established especially about the early lives of the characters in this book but Mr Iggulden makes no claim that his work is in any way historically accurate, but nevertheless his version of events is believable and completely absorbing.
I loved this book and cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us in his next novel in January!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars If you loved Gladiator you'll love this
The first book in the Julius Ceasar series starts in his earlier years until he is a teenager. Its powerful, exciting and most importantly interesting. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Hedges

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Little Boys
No, not a Rolf Harris story!

The first book starts with two boys - Julius and Marcus - who grow up together on an estate outside Rome, fighting the local bully, and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Filthy Raider

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Slighly slow at first but builds up nicely and sets the stage for more. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Published 5 months ago by W. K. Moro

5.0 out of 5 stars why had no one told me about this book!?!
Having read "Wolf of the Plains" by the same auther i bought this book expecting the same sort of fast paced involving read as the other title had given me. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jamie.W

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Fiction not Fact
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... Read more
Published 6 months ago by The History Boffin

4.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece in the sub-genre of high energy historical novel
Iggulden - extraordinary name - has found the perfect balance between steroidal action romp and historical integrity. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Youngshave

1.0 out of 5 stars the gates of rome
The first question, at this place for review, is are you under 13?
The answer is that you must be, to read books of this cathegory! Read more
Published 12 months ago by docM

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book for history lovers
This book is not 100% historically accurate, which Iggulden states quite clearly in all his books and gives the accurate description of where he differed in the book at the end... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Adams

2.0 out of 5 stars Totally lost the suspension of disbelief
Since this book contained so many glowing reviews inside and on its front cover among whom were two writers I very much respect (David Gemmell, Bernard Cornwell), both masters of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jim Clarke

4.0 out of 5 stars Never mind the facts - this is a Great read!
If I had wanted to read a history of Gaius Julius Caesar and the birth of the Roman Empire I would have gone to the non-fiction section. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Paul Margetts

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