Reviews

Augustus by John Williams

marians_'s review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

zhengsterz's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Augustus is a fictional biography of Octavius Caesar the man who started the Pax Romana(period of immense prosperity ) told through fictional letters that depict the changes of Rome at his hands. Although based on real life events, the letters in the book are fictional and are the author's interpretation of the relationships Octavius had with those around him. An intriguing approach to a biography but it works marvelously to make you empathize with each and every person who was in Octavius' sphere of influence. From his daughter Julia, to his wives his closest friends Agrippa and Maecenus we get a glimpse into what might have been their actual relationships. Octavius himself only has a letter attributed to him in the last and final chapter of the book where we finally see the Machiavellian statesman pondering on the life he's lead and his disillusionment with power and what he had to give up to maintain it. It is a very sobering look into the burdens that a man of his caliber has to shoulder and his resulting cynicism is believable and heartfelt. His clarity and assuredness of his ultimate duty to his country is awesome inspiring even as we look through the lens of characters gone past. A great book for sure.

alyosha57's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gerbenletzer's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A masterclass in writing. 

giancarlon's review against another edition

3.0

The biography of Octavian Caesar in epistolary form. As technically impeccable as the book is, unless one is particularly interested in Roman history or Augustus in particular, the story leaves one quite indifferent. It develops a minimum of humanity only in the final two chapters.

rosemarynvine's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ginbottle's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A life of the Emperor Augustus presented as a mosaic of scrolls written from different perspectives by those who knew him.

Perfectly readable and enjoyable, but perhaps too fragmentary to be fully immersive.

obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition

4.0

Quite a good way to end the reading year. I loved John Williams' "Stoner" and I really liked his coming of age western "Butcher's Crossing", but it took me a long time to finally read and finish his novel about the roman emporer Augustus. It's solely written in the form of letters and throws you into the world of Ancient Rome. For me, someone who hardly knows anything about the topic, it was really quite difficult to get into. But this 1972 novel is so well-written and intelligently structured, that once I was really in it, I didn't want to let go. I'm now so hyped about learning more about Ancient Rome. People like John Williams and Mary Renault really showed what historical novels can be like, far away from the cliché: intelligent, engaging and making the reader want to learn more about the topics and time frame.

inbarbenishay's review against another edition

3.5

Yes, I do think about the Roman Empire quite often…
זה היה הספר המושלם לקרוא בסיציליה! כמו שסטונר היה ספר מושלם לקרוא ברומא ופירנצה.

shoba's review against another edition

4.0

An epistolary novel detailing Gaius Octavius’ rise to become Caesar Augustus and the major events of his 40 year reign.

Letter: Gaius Cilnius Maecenas to Titus Livius (13 B.C.)
We had heard the witticism that Cicero made: "We shall do the boy honor, we shall do him praise, and we shall do him in." But I think that even Octavius did not expect the Senate and Cicero to offer so blatant and contemptuous a dismissal. Poor Cicero….Despite the trouble he caused us and the harm that he intended, we were always rather fond of him. Such a foolish man, though; he acted out of enthusiasm, vanity, and conviction. We had learned early that we could not afford those luxuries; we moved, when we had to move, out of calculation, policy, and necessity.



The letters concerning the military and political maneuvers and the palace intrigues pale in comparison to the singular voice of Caesar Augustus’s daughter, Julia.

The Journal of Julia, Pandateria (A.D. 4)
It has served me well, this body, over the years—though it began its service later than it might have done. It began its service late, for it was told that it had no rights, and must by the nature of things be subservient to dictates other than its own. When I learned that the body had its rights, I had been twice married, and was the mother of three children….