Reviews

Augustus by John Williams

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rosemarynvine's review against another edition

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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….

benehime's review against another edition

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2.0

Man kommt mit den Namen durcheinander, bekommt nie ein Gefühl für die Charaktere und die Handlung, die ja eigentlich irrsinnig spannend sein könnte, ist zum einschlafen.