Quintissential Car Reading

In their style of writing, certain books complement certain venues - two examples being Dawkins' books for coffee shop reading and Michael Palin's books for holidays. Having listened to many audiobooks in my travels to & from work, I have found few better than the Emperor series for keeping my attention and yet not requiring me to know every detail of the plot.

This particular one was the first one Robert Glenister narrated and it is amazing how, even early on, he has a talent for the voices and a skilful clear narrative. The plot may be a little slow at first, but that is typical of biographical novels, and the action that begins on the third part is well paced and compelling.

Since I have heard all but one of the rest of the series before this one, I would recommend this audio download on its own merits as a good foundation to build the rest of the series on (though the order of reading is not especially important). The Emperor series make for brilliant and engaging adventure novels which help long journeys go by like a breeze!

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25 people found this helpful

Great book

Defiantly worth a read.... or listen!!

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3 people found this helpful

A masterpiece

Incredible. Thrilling. Unforgetable. An absolutely amazing storry from beginning to end. Also a perfect depiction of roman society.

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1 person found this helpful

Very good - maybe 5 stars

Being a bit dim I didn't get who this fascinating story was about until near the end - it made it even better when his true identity was revealed.

Great historical novel.

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Caesars youth as imagined by Iggulden

I love historical novels and enjoy stories from the Romans or English kings/queens, most of all.

This books is the first in a series and I was looking forward to listen to it after reading good things about it. I was a bit dissapointed. It was ok, quite well written but.... I understand that any author writing historical novels is filling in the gaps with his fantasy and there is not so much known about the youth of Caesar so I understand that in this respect he could use his fantasy. But, why to totally change things that are known? The author explaines in his afterword that he thinks the real story was to confusing, but I do not agree. Novels are fiction, I understand, but I think he took a bit to much license with the truth. I will not be reading the second book any time soon...

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Well written but historically inaccurate!

The narrator is excellent and the story is well written. However, fictional characters should have been used as the author has taken real people and just made up the events around them. This is just about acceptable when writing about people of the past of whom we know little, but not when writing about ancient Rome - a period that is remarkably well documented!

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Wonderful

fantastic story well delivered, if you have interest in Roman history you will love it.. and if you don't have an interest in Roman history it's still a great story.

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Great story & great narrator

Fascinating story and well told. A bit gruesome in places, but nothing more than is required by the time in which it is set. Can’t wait to listen to book 2!

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Excellent read

The childhood of Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.
Or, it could have been.
A great listen.
Have ordered book 2
Enjoy.

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A Very Sound Start!

Ancient Rome in all its glory and squalor seen through the eyes of two growing boys who are destined to be numbered amongst its most famous sons. A glorious city of great contrasts: fanatical loyalty set against incredible fickleness and the difference between the high value of the lives of the nobilitas set against the cheap, commodity that was a slave or pauper. The great schemes and intrigues of the Senate and the gutter politics of the tavern and barracks.

Gates of Rome is part historical fiction and part a coming of age novel. It follows the two boys Marcus and Gaius from their young childhood through to them taking their place in the Roman world as young men with names as famous as any in history. Iggulden fills in the gaps in known history and as he explains in the excellent brief historical note at the end of the book bends timelines and details to facilitate his story. It is though largely set within a well-detailed and authentic historical environment and follows the genuine history reasonably well.

“Gates of Rome” is a powerful scene setter for what I assume is coming and it is extremely well-read by Robert Glenister who is clearly a sought-after narrator by high quality authors. The characters stand up well and evoke images of the best and worst that the Roman world had to offer. Marius and Sulla are particularly strong as the rival consuls of the city.

The overall package promises much for the rest of the series and I very am very much looking forwards to progressing through the rest of the series.

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26 people found this helpful