FREE: Colleen McCullough, Caesar's Women

The listing, Colleen McCullough, Caesar's Women has ended.

943 pages!
Fabulous historical!
Caesar's Women gives us a chance of getting to know the women in Rome. We spend time with Aurelia, his mother. We see Julia, his beautiful young daughter. We even get to know the venomous Servilia, the woman with whom Caesar had an affair for years and years - and who is also the mother of Brutus, the fellow who would eventually lead the group of conspirators to stab him.
We also get a chance to see the festival of Bona Dea (the good goddess) and the attempt on the part of the irresponsible Publius Clodius to infiltrate it. This was dreadful sacrilege for Rome and led to Caesar's divorce of his second wife, the beautiful bimbo Pompeia Sulla (Caesar's wife must be above suspicion).

Other characters continue making their appearances: Cicero and Cato and Marcus Crassus. There is, of course, the background of wars and politics and intrigue and the struggle between mediocrity and excellence. Pompey beats back the pirates. Cicero executes men without trial (although they are self-confessed). He thinks he is doing what is right for the country: but is he? Over and over the characters ask themselves a so very important question: How do we best govern ourselves? And how do I come out on top?

Towards the end we see a bit of real romance: Julia and Pompey the Great. Even though there are about 30 years between them, they fall in love, enabling a most important alliance for Caesar. The joy and exuberance of these two characters is off set by the utter depression of the jilted Brutus, who has loved Julia (and has been betrothed to her) for many years. And, as we know what is to come, I can't help wondering: Did the cancellation of the engagement lead to Brutus picking up the dagger? Or was it Caesar's long time affair with his mother?