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tedgraham's review against another edition
5.0
A novel that vividly and very cleverly recreates the life and career of Augustus, primarily though the epistolary thoughts of those who surrounded him. Williams sees (not incorrectly, in my opinion) the Emperor's life as a tragedy, and portrays it as such; the fruits of his early brilliant victories are frustrated by human frailty (both his own and that of those around him), and his succession plans fail time and again due (unlike in I, Claudius) to bad luck. His final days and the impending accession of Tiberius are a sad end to a monumental life, and the book's coda is a viciously ironic kicker. I loved it.
quinnkiernan's review against another edition
I got about 65 percent through and decided life is short, time is precious, and I’d rather read about a asthmatic Frenchmen thrust into involuntary reveries after tasting a Madeleine dipped in tea than I would about a “great” Roman leader. Better to be a forgotten “John smith,” a languorous waif amongst the strollers of park slope, satisfied at the end of the day if only he got to enjoy a fresh baguette, than it is to be the fabled intrigant and philosopher king of the Roman Empire
Here’s to a resounding “Bronx cheer” to the Epistolary novel
Here’s to a resounding “Bronx cheer” to the Epistolary novel
heartland_hermit427983's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
neculara's review against another edition
5.0
John Williams' three novels are distinctly different from each other. Often, if you like one book by a specific author, it's safe to assume that if you pick up another, you will be served something similar - in topic, tone or language. But each of Williams' novels are - without compromise - true to their own, unique concept.
So is the case with Augustus. While Stoner is mostly a campus novel and Butcher's Crossing a western, Augustus is an epistolary novel on the rise and reign of Gaius Octavius, known as Emperor Augustus. In addition to letters, it also contains journal entries, military orders, reports and autobiography excerpts. The emperor himself is, for the most part, seen from the outside. The people telling the story are mostly nobles, politicians or military leaders, but there are also some regular citizens that gets to tell their stories. Together, these writings make a choir of voices that encompasses the whole of Augustus' life. The first half of the book describes Augustus' rise to power, the second half his reign and the life of his daughter, Julia.
The fact that Williams managed to put all of this together in a way that works so well, is nothing less than impressive. Not once while reading could I say to myself "this could have been handled differently" or "this should have been shortened down". I know that some of the historical events in the book are not accurate, but the world building is excellent and gives us a believable version of ancient roman society.
Augustus is, as far as roman emperors go, an enigma. He hid his motivation, his plans, his ambitions. He was a very private person, difficult to read. Maybe this explains Williams' interest in him? He would make a good candidate for a literary main character. An author can fill this character with his own imagination. His secrecy and historical unknowability makes him moldable.
In spite of all this, Augustus' only child, Julia, is maybe the most fascinating character in the book. Her journal entries looks back on her entire life, and like most of the other characters, it was a very intense and dramatic one. She tells us of her development from child to adult in more detail than the letters describing Augustus. We see her married several times and then discovering her own identity outside of the constricting life of a roman noble - a short lived freedom that is soon snatched away from her. All of this is framed with the experience and wisdom of the much older Julia, looking back on it all.
We can be certain that Williams' Augustus loves his daughter very much. And his closest friendships are also extremely important to him. But Augustus is very self disciplined, and sometimes cold - he is willing to do whatever needs to be done to keep the Empire together and secure his own power. He uses his family and friends as pawns, arranging marriages for them to secure allegiances - and he does this in several rounds. Both Julia and Augustus' sister suffers because of this.
Was Augustus a good guy or a bad guy? Was he a hero and the gathering force of the Empire, or was he a dubious, rotten aristocrat willing to do anything to gain power? The question of what power does to people is an important theme throughout the book. Without concluding definitely what kind of person Augustus was, the book brings out all the nuances and all the doubt troubling a person with so much power - and so much to lose.
It is exciting to see the power struggles in the Roman Empire, especially in the first half of the book.
Williams does try to describe a time where peoples' psyches and world view are distinctly different from our own, but at the same time keeping the characters recognizable for modern readers. For the most part, this works, but although the book is believable, it's definitely very difficult to know how people, so remote in time from ourselves, reasoned, thought and felt. The accuracy is difficult to determine. Not that it really matters. This is an excellent novel.
So is the case with Augustus. While Stoner is mostly a campus novel and Butcher's Crossing a western, Augustus is an epistolary novel on the rise and reign of Gaius Octavius, known as Emperor Augustus. In addition to letters, it also contains journal entries, military orders, reports and autobiography excerpts. The emperor himself is, for the most part, seen from the outside. The people telling the story are mostly nobles, politicians or military leaders, but there are also some regular citizens that gets to tell their stories. Together, these writings make a choir of voices that encompasses the whole of Augustus' life. The first half of the book describes Augustus' rise to power, the second half his reign and the life of his daughter, Julia.
The fact that Williams managed to put all of this together in a way that works so well, is nothing less than impressive. Not once while reading could I say to myself "this could have been handled differently" or "this should have been shortened down". I know that some of the historical events in the book are not accurate, but the world building is excellent and gives us a believable version of ancient roman society.
Augustus is, as far as roman emperors go, an enigma. He hid his motivation, his plans, his ambitions. He was a very private person, difficult to read. Maybe this explains Williams' interest in him? He would make a good candidate for a literary main character. An author can fill this character with his own imagination. His secrecy and historical unknowability makes him moldable.
In spite of all this, Augustus' only child, Julia, is maybe the most fascinating character in the book. Her journal entries looks back on her entire life, and like most of the other characters, it was a very intense and dramatic one. She tells us of her development from child to adult in more detail than the letters describing Augustus. We see her married several times and then discovering her own identity outside of the constricting life of a roman noble - a short lived freedom that is soon snatched away from her. All of this is framed with the experience and wisdom of the much older Julia, looking back on it all.
We can be certain that Williams' Augustus loves his daughter very much. And his closest friendships are also extremely important to him. But Augustus is very self disciplined, and sometimes cold - he is willing to do whatever needs to be done to keep the Empire together and secure his own power. He uses his family and friends as pawns, arranging marriages for them to secure allegiances - and he does this in several rounds. Both Julia and Augustus' sister suffers because of this.
Was Augustus a good guy or a bad guy? Was he a hero and the gathering force of the Empire, or was he a dubious, rotten aristocrat willing to do anything to gain power? The question of what power does to people is an important theme throughout the book. Without concluding definitely what kind of person Augustus was, the book brings out all the nuances and all the doubt troubling a person with so much power - and so much to lose.
It is exciting to see the power struggles in the Roman Empire, especially in the first half of the book.
Williams does try to describe a time where peoples' psyches and world view are distinctly different from our own, but at the same time keeping the characters recognizable for modern readers. For the most part, this works, but although the book is believable, it's definitely very difficult to know how people, so remote in time from ourselves, reasoned, thought and felt. The accuracy is difficult to determine. Not that it really matters. This is an excellent novel.
enaraccoon's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Actually didn't expect to love this as much as I did. So good. Clearly lots.of research behind it. Love love love.
Also we shouldn't call this genre "historical fiction" when it's just fanfiction with literary value
Also we shouldn't call this genre "historical fiction" when it's just fanfiction with literary value
quaintmetropolis's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Gaius Octavius (later named Augustus Caesar) is only 19 years-old when his uncle and adoptive father, Julius Caesar, is assassinated. With the help of his fellow young comrades, he must outmaneuver the treacherous political landscape of Ancient Rome and claim his title as the first Roman emperor. William’s chronicles the young emperor’s ascent to power through to his reflective, last years.
Though he is the titular character, we’re only allowed fractured accounts of Octavius. Williams’ tells this historical fiction through the epistolary form: fully through letters, journal entries, and written proclamations. The differing accounts created a cinematic experience often making me question the objective truth; mirroring the funny, impersonal way we look at historical figures today. This results in a kaleidoscopic view of what makes a man and a leader; one that is constantly at odds between duty and personal desire.
I loved all three sections for differing reasons. I enjoyed the cinematic quality of Book I where I would literally gasp at the end of chapters. Book II was a powerful reflection on how power dynamics show up for the women. How they must maneuver differently in this world compared to the brutish power-jockeying their male counterparts weaponize, how they're made the pawns and often are left in the wake of men's violence. Julia's reflections were such an emotional core of powerlessness and duty although she is the most powerful woman in Rome. Williams' decision to revive a stripped-from-the-history account was such a strong statement. And I loved the final chapter when we finally hear from Octavius as he reflects on the contrariness of man and his self-sacrifice. What stood out to me in his chapter was also how he never truly understands Julia. He sees her from the perspective of a man; treacherous and duplicitous versus as a woman who has never felt her own freedom. They are so similar in their restraints, but he's unable to understand her. Heartbreaking.
I don’t think you need to be very informed on Ancient Rome to enjoy this as I wasn’t at all. Williams’ execution is remarkably readable and created a dynamic, sweeping view of Ancient Rome. The structure and voices made me feel like an insider on the juiciest, dramatic Roman gossip.
The clever plotting, immense research, and straight-forward yet impactful prose are just a few things that made this a standout for me. Not to mention the stark themes. This has joined my tiny list of five stars and has bolstered prioritizing the rest of Williams’ small body of work sooner rather than later.
rachele_ch's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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
4.5
gwcoffey's review against another edition
5.0
Augustus is a perfectly written, surprisingly moving epistolary novel about the life of Caesar Augustus. Williams pulls off a magic trick here, telling an engrossing and compelling story of the first Emperor of Rome through personal drama. The world-altering historical events are a backdrop here. This is a book about the man and, to a lesser extent, his daughter.
The phrase “It does not matter” is a recurring motif. It reduces the events of the story to footnotes, and in the process the characters are elevated.
The despair that I have voiced seems to me now unworthy of what I have done. Rome is not eternal; it does not matter. Rome will fall; it does not matter. The barbarian will conquer; it does not matter. There was a moment of Rome.
Williams is a masterful writer. Each character writes with a distinctive voice, and you find youself feeling who is writing through voice alone. And the writing style is impeccable. I’m not versed enough it the world of Roman classics to identify this myself, but my child (who is) tells me Williams is using patterns here closely connected to Latin rhetorical style of the time.
Augustus has a core theme of inevitability: the inevitability of the Roman Empire itself, and its inevitable fall. And also of impermanence and perhaps even futility. These are surprising themes for a book about the rise of the empire.
Do they know that before us lies a road at the end of which is either death or greatness? The two words go around in my head, around and around, until it seems they are the same.
I love this book enough to immediately listen to the audiobook. And I’m sure I’ll read it again.
peanutallergy95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5