A Caesar Reader: Selections from Bellum Gallicum and Bellum Civile, and from Caesar’s Letters, Speeches, and Poetry

A mature but accessible Latin, a narrative brimming with historical significance and fascination: these were once touted as obvious advantages of reading Caesar’s Bellum Gallicum. A change in sensibilities, however, read Rome’s brutal invasion and conquest of northern Europe as problematic, if not disturbing. But questions about the validity of Rome’s actions—and of Caesar’s, especially in his later Bellum Civile—are precisely what make these commentaries compelling to read and to discuss. Additional selections from Caesar’s letters, speeches, and poetry offer fresh perspectives on his stylistic versatility. Tatum’s commentary guides readers through it all, pointing up Caesar’s significance as a representative of his age, culture, and class, while not skirting issues raised by the “intriguingly unsimple mentality” that gave us these works.

Special Features

• Introduction to Caesar’s life, times, works, and style
• 588 lines of unadapted Latin text selected from Caesar’s two historical commentaries as well as from his extant correspondence, oratory, and poetry: Bellum Gallicum BOOK 1: 1.1–1.4, 2.1–3.1, 7, 11–12, 34–36; BOOK 2: 19.6–22.2; BOOK 5: 27; BOOK 6: 13–14, 16, 21, 24 • Bellum Civile BOOK 1: 3–4, 7, 22–23; BOOK 2: 31–32; BOOK 3: 1, 57, 103.2–104.3 • Cicero Ad Atticum 9.7C (Caesar to Oppius and Cornelius), 10.8B (Caesar to Cicero) • Suetonius Vita Divi Iulii 6 (fragment of Caesar’s funeral oration for his aunt Julia) • Suetonius Vita Terentii 7 (Caesar’s poem on Terence)
• Notes at the back and complete vocabulary
• Appendix on Latin prose rhythm
• Three maps and three illustrations