New Releases by Philip Freeman

The tragic life of Julian, the last non-Christian emperor of Rome, by award-winning author Philip Freeman “When we think of ancient Rome, it’s impossible not to think of Christianity, one of its most notable exports—but what if it hadn’t been? This is the question provoked by classicist Philip Freeman in Julian, an appealing new entry in Yale’s Ancient Lives series, which tells the story of the old faith’s last imperial torchbearer.”—Anna Heyward, New York Times Book Review Flavius Claudius Julianus, or Julian the Apostate, ruled Rome as sole emperor for just a year and a half, from 361 to 363, but during that time he turned the world upside down. Although a nephew of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of Rome, Julian fought to return Rome to the old gods who had led his ancestors to build their vast empire. As emperor, Julian (331–363) set about reforming the administration, conquering new territories, and reviving ancient religions. He was scorned in his time for repudiating Christianity and demonized as an apostate for willfully rejecting Christ. Through the centuries, Julian has been viewed by many as a tragic figure who sought to save Rome from its enemies and the corrupting influence of Christianity. Christian writers and historians have seen Julian much differently: as a traitor to God and violent oppressor of Christians. Had Julian not been killed by a random Persian spear, he might well have changed all of history.

This book delves into the true manner of understanding and using the order for Morning and Evening Prayer and for the administration of the Holy Communion in the English Church. It is an inquiry into divine service and offers principles that readers can learn from. Philip Freeman provides readers with a thorough examination of traditional prayer and services that make this book an essential reference for those looking to deepen their understanding of the English Church. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

"Mark Freeman''s inspiring account of the burgeoning field of the psychological humanities presents a clear and compelling vision of what the discipline of psychology might become. Engaging and accessible, this bold, provocative book is destined to spark significant discussion and debate in audiences including advanced undergraduates, postgraduates, and professionals in the field of psychology with interests in theoretical and philosophical psychology"--

Usia lanjut kerap dipandang dari dua sisi yang berlawanan. Di satu ujung, sebagian orang mengidealkan dan mengidentikkan lanjut usia dengan kebijaksanaan. Di ujung lain, lansia tak jarang dipandang sebagai orang menyebalkan yang terus saja mengeluh, meratapi lenyapnya masa muda. Cicero tidak ingin terperangkap dalam dua pandangan itu. Sekalipun sering mengejek seniornya yang suka melantur dan bicara bertele -tele, dia juga menegaskan bahwa usia lanjut bukanlah penggalan hidup yang layak ditakuti, melainkan untuk dinikmati sepenuh -penuhnya karena bisa menjadi bagian hidup yang luar biasa. Buku ini menyarikan gagasan Cicero tentang hidup menua yang tertuang dalam risalah pendek karyanya, De Senectute. Risalah itu, yang dia ditulis ketika menginjak usia 60-an, membabarkan beberapa hal penting dalam hidup menua, terutama bahwa usia lanjut yang elok tidak dibangun menjelang usia pensiun, melainkan bermula pada usia muda. Keugaharian, kebijaksanaan, pemikiran jernih—semua yang menjadi penopang selagi orang menua—adalah kebiasaan yang harus dipelajari selagi muda. Pikiran, seperti otot, harus dilatih. Orang-orang muda yang serba murung tidak menjadi lebih bahagia seiring mereka menua.

Telling the story of a man who stood against the overwhelming power of the mighty Roman empire, Hannibal is the biography of a man who, against all odds, dared to change the course of history. Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome''s growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal, consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp? Hannibal appeals to many as the ultimate underdog—a Carthaginian David against the Goliath of Rome—but it wasn''t just his genius on the battlefield that set him apart. As a boy and then a man, his self-discipline and determination were legendary. As a military leader, like Alexander the Great before him and Julius Caesar after, he understood the hearts of men and had an uncanny ability to read the unseen weaknesses of his enemy. As a commander in war, Hannibal has few equals in history and has long been held as a model of strategic and tactical genius. But Hannibal was much more than just a great general. He was a practiced statesman, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country. Roman historians—on whom we rely for almost all our information on Hannibal—portray him as a cruel barbarian, but how does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthaginian point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman writers who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? Can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way— not as the noble and benign defenders of civilization but as ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and conquest?

What does jazz mean 20 years into the 21st century? Has streaming culture rendered music literally meaningless, thanks to the removal of all context beyond the playlist? Are there any traditions left to explore? Has the destruction of the apprenticeship model (young musicians learning from their elders) changed the music irrevocably? Are any sounds off limits? How far out can you go and still call it jazz? Or should the term be retired? These questions, and many more, are answered in Ugly Beauty, as Phil Freeman digs through his own experiences and conversations with present-day players. Jazz has never seemed as vital as it does right now, and has a genuine role to play in 21st-century culture, particularly in the US and the UK.

In Celtic Spirituality, acclaimed translator and scholar Philip Freeman allows the voices of the Celts to speak once more. Though the Celtic civilization has long disappeared, lingering traces of their spirituality haunt Ireland and the surrounding land. Tantalizing snippets of faded manuscript pages, ancient stone carvings, and spells from the mystery-shrouded Druids have sparked the imagination of generations of modern seekers. Translated from their original languages—Gaulish, Latin, Irish, and Welsh—the passages and stories in Celtic Spirituality are true artifacts of the Celts'' vibrant and varied religion from both the pre-Christian and early Christian period. From a ritual of magical inspiration to stories of the ancient gods and adventures of long-forgotten heroes, Freeman has unearthed a stunning collection of Celtic work. The translation is accessible to the modern reader, but maintains the beauty and vibrancy of the original. Celtic Spirituality includes material that has never been translated before, offering a new glimpse into the wisdom and wild magic of the Celts.

Die alten Römer waren zutiefst religiös und ihre Welt war voller Götter – von Jupiter, Minerva und Mars bis hin zu unzähligen lokalen Gottheiten, Hausgöttern und Ahnengeistern. Eine der einflussreichsten römischen Perspektiven auf die Religion kam von einem nicht-religiösen Glaubenssystem, dem Stoizismus. Wie dachten die Stoiker über Religion? In diesem Band stellt Philip Freeman Ciceros Vom Wesen der Götter und Der Traum des Scipio in einer völlig neuen Übersetzung vor – zwei Schriften, die in über 2000 Jahren nicht an Bedeutung verloren haben und von denen Persönlichkeiten wie Thomas von Aquin, Dante oder Thomas Jefferson beeinflusst wurden. Zusammen mit einer informativen Einleitung gibt das Buch einen faszinierenden Einblick in die stoischen Konzepte des Göttlichen. Inklusive des lateinischen Originaltextes in einer zweisprachigen Ausgabe

In ''Rites and Ritual: A Plea for Apostolic Doctrine and Worship'', Philip Freeman explores the intricate connection between religious rites, ritualistic practices, and the preservation of apostolic doctrine within the Christian faith. Freeman delves into the ways in which rituals can serve as a means of embodying and passing down the core teachings of early Christianity, emphasizing the importance of maintaining traditional practices in a modern context. Through a blend of historical analysis and theological reflection, Freeman elucidates the significance of rituals in shaping believers'' understanding of their faith and maintaining a connection to the early roots of Christianity. His scholarly approach is marked by a deep respect for the historical development of Christian practices and a keen awareness of the spiritual richness they offer to contemporary worshipers. Philip Freeman, a renowned expert in religious studies, draws on his extensive knowledge of ancient Christian traditions and sacramental theology to make a compelling case for the enduring value of apostolic doctrine and worship. ''Rites and Ritual'' is a must-read for any reader seeking a deeper understanding of the historical and spiritual dimensions of Christian ritual practice, as well as those interested in exploring the vitality of ancient traditions within modern faith communities.

In Zeiten von Social Media, Online-Dating und sozialer Vereinzelung gerät die Idee wahrer, dauerhafter Freundschaft immer mehr in den Hintergrund. Gleichzeitig ist die Suche nach einem echten Freund wichtiger denn je. Dieses Büchlein ist der Klassiker zu dem Thema, es enthält grundlegende Ratschläge des berühmten römischen Politikers und Philosophen Cicero. Er zeigt mit Witz, Weisheit und Eloquenz, wie man Freunde findet, behält und wertschätzt. Ohne sie, so Cicero, ist das Leben nichts wert. Geschrieben 44 v. Chr., hat sein Werk mit dem ursprünglichen Titel De Amicitia seit mehr als zweitausend Jahren inspiriert. Die neue englische Übersetzung von Philip Freeman wird hier erstmalig auf Deutsch veröffentlicht, wobei der lateinische Text ebenfalls im Buch enthalten ist. Zudem macht die Einführung Freemans Lust auf die Lektüre.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Bedeutet Altern wirklich den Verlust körperlicher und geistiger Beweglichkeit? Der große Redner und Politiker Cicero sagt: Nein und führt aus, wie im Gegenteil die zweite Lebenshälfte zur besten Zeit überhaupt werden kann, und welche Vorteile alte gegenüber jungen Menschen haben. Voller zeitloser Weisheit und praktischer Ratschläge, hat seine Schrift (entstanden 44 v.Chr.) die Leser seit mehr als zweitausend Jahren inspiriert. Hier liegt sie nun im Original und mit einer neuen Übersetzung sowie einer informativen Einleitung vor. »Je mehr Menschen Cicero lesen, desto besser wird die Welt werden.« Anthony Corbeill, University of Kansas »Eine außergewöhnlich lebendige Übersetzung eines großartigen Werks.« Stephen Harrison, University of Oxford

A young Irish nun finds herself the guardian of a mysterious manuscript claiming to be the lost gospel of Mary, when she realizes that church authorities are willing to kill to get their hands on it . . . An old and dying nun has turned up at Deirdre''s monastery in Ireland with an ancient manuscript on a papyrus roll. When Deirdre reads the first line, she realizes it claims to be a previously unknown gospel written by Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church authorities in Rome have been seeking to destroy this gospel for centuries, claiming it is a forgery that threatens the very foundations of the faith. Deirdre begins to translate the gospel, but when a delegate of the pope arrives in Kildare searching for the text, she must set out across Ireland seeking safety as the church and its henchmen are hot on her trail. What does the gospel say? And why is the church so afraid of it?

"Not Sex, Drugs, and Rock ''n'' Roll, but Sex, Crime and Rock ''n'' Roll. Freeman''s insider knowledge of the music industry gives this fresh Jersey noir extra heavy metal."-Ethan Iverson, The Bad Plus "An even cursory glance at what we had so piquantly once called ''newspapers'' will show that while truth is stranger than fiction it''s not nearly as well written. Freeman''s FIFTY FOOT DROP, mixing modalities he knows well-music, metal, Jersey and crime-manages to make one hell of a hardboiled treatise on all of the above. And then some. Freeman''s not a pretty man and thank god, neither is his writing."-Eugene S. Robinson, author, A LONG SLOW SCREW and FIGHT, OR EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ASS KICKING BUT WERE AFRAID TO GET YOUR ASS KICKED FOR ASKING "FIFTY FOOT DROP plunges us into a sinister underworld of shady deals, uneasy alliances, and a big score that goes wrong in all the right ways. Freeman brings a convincing expertise and perceptive eye to both the machinations of the music business and the New Jersey neighborhood of working class immigrants where this engrossing crime story unfolds."-Scott Von Doviak, author, CHARLESGATE CONFIDENTIAL (Hard Case Crime, 2018) Rock singer Taylor Bailey''s career was on the rise-until his tour bus slid off an Ohio highway, badly injuring him and his brother. Now the band is on hiatus, his brother''s in the hospital with medical bills mounting, and he''s limping around on one leg. So when a former friend and a very sexy bartender ask him to help them rob a local mob boss, he finds himself trading his guitar for a shotgun and running from cops and criminals alike. A FIFTY FOOT DROP can change your whole life.

Most people have heard of the Celts--the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist. In this book, for the first time, Philip Freeman brings together the best stories of Celtic mythology. Everyone today knows about the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks, such as Zeus, Hera, and Hercules, but how many people have heard of the Gaulish god Lugus or the magical Welsh queen Rhiannon or the great Irish warrior C� Chulainn? We still thrill to the story of the Trojan War, but the epic battles of the Irish T�in B� Cuailgne are known only to a few. And yet those who have read the stories of Celtic myth and legend-among them writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis-have been deeply moved and influenced by these amazing tales, for there is nothing in the world quite like them. In these stories a mysterious and invisible realm of gods and spirits exists alongside and sometimes crosses over into our own human world; fierce women warriors battle with kings and heroes, and even the rules of time and space can be suspended. Captured in vivid prose these shadowy figures-gods, goddesses, and heroes-come to life for the modern reader.

Vampires are real. But don''t worry-the government knows all about it. Harry Atwill is a detective. He''s also a vampire, in a world where his kind have come out of the shadows and are under governmental observation. They call themselves "drinkers" now, and they go to meetings to keep the urge to hunt at bay. When a drinker couple hires him to find their missing human daughter, he''s thrown into a dark underworld where drinkers prey on the people they call "bleeders," and plot to rule a planet they see as rightfully theirs. Harry has to find the girl, and keep himself alive in a world where a powerful, predatory drinker gang and the police would both just as soon see him disappear.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

An exploration of the fascinating poetry, life, and world of Sappho, including a complete translation of all her poems. For more than twenty-five centuries, all that the world knew of the poems of Sappho—the first woman writer in literary history—were a few brief quotations preserved by ancient male authors. Yet those meager remains showed such power and genius that they captured the imagination of readers through the ages. But within the last century, dozens of new pieces of her poetry have been found written on crumbling papyrus or carved on broken pottery buried in the sands of Egypt. As recently as 2014, yet another discovery of a missing poem created a media stir around the world. The poems of Sappho reveal a remarkable woman who lived on the Greek island of Lesbos during the vibrant age of the birth of western science, art, and philosophy. Sappho was the daughter of an aristocratic family, a wife, a devoted mother, a lover of women, and one of the greatest writers of her own or any age. Nonetheless, although most people have heard of Sappho, the story of her lost poems and the lives of the ancient women they celebrate has never been told for a general audience. Searching for Sappho is the exciting tale of the rediscovery of Sappho’s poetry and of the woman and world they reveal.

Someone is killing the nuns of Ireland.The grisly discovery of an elderly sister of Saint Brigid’s monastery strangled, bled dry, and thrown into a bog is just the beginning. Soon a beautiful young nun is found decapitated and hung from a barren tree. It doesn’t take long before the members of the struggling monastic community of Kildare realize that not only are the nuns being hunted by a serial killer, but the murderer is preforming the gruesome slayings in the manner of the ancient druid sacrifices.Set in the turmoil of sixth-century Ireland, where ruthless tribal kings wage constant war for survival and the powerful religious order of the druids is threatened by the newly-arrived Christian church, the desperate task of finding the killer falls to Sister Deirdre, a young women torn between the world of the monastery and her own druidic heritage. Unless Deirdre can find the killer before the cycle of sacrifices is complete, more of her friends will die, the monastery will face destruction, and the whole of Ireland may be plunged into civil war.

In ancient Ireland, an island ruled by kings and druids, the nuns of Saint Brigid are fighting to keep their monastery alive. When the bones of Brigid go missing from their church, the theft threatens to destroy all they have worked for. No one knows the danger they face better than Sister Deirdre, a young nun torn between two worlds.Trained as a bard and raised by a druid grandmother, she must draw upon all of her skills, both as a bard and as a nun, to find the bones before the convent begins to lose faith.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1855 Edition.

The real story of Patrick and his times is even better than the tales that have grown up around him. ''The World of Saint Patrick'' brings together for the first time the greatest and most important works of early Christian Ireland in a fresh, vibrant translation for general readers. It also includes a collection of early church laws, imaginative tales of Patrick''s struggles with pagan kings, soaring hymns of praise, and a prayer of protection against forces of evil, including ''the magic of women, blacksmiths, and druids''.

Accessible, fast-paced retellings of the most important classical Greek and Roman myths, adapted for middle graders. Ancient myths continue to have modern relevance—for thousands of years they have been the basis for plays, operas, paintings, and movies. And in these retellings from acclaimed writer and scholar Philip Freeman, classic tales from Greek and Roman mythology find new life and inspire aspiring writers, artists, and musicians. Adapted from the lengthier Oh My Gods and specially tailored to a younger audience, these irresistible stories of philandering gods, flawed heroes, and tragic lovers portray the fundamental aspects of humanity and are filled with entertaining drama and valuable insights. Sixty dramatic illustrations enliven the book.

The author, a professor of classics and visiting scholar at the Harvard Divinity school presents modern interpretations of traditional Greek and Roman myths that render classic themes accessible to a new generation of readers. Here he retells some of the most popular myths and tales of errant gods, fantastic creatures, and human heroes, including powerful Zeus, his wife Hera, Apollo, beautiful Aphrodite, fierce Athena, the dauntless heroes Theseus and Hercules, the doomed lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as the tales of the Argonauts, and the narrative of the Battle of Troy. These Greek and Roman myths are as relevant today as ever in their sharp observations about human nature; they still inspire awe, give us courage, and break our hearts. They have inspired plays, operas, and paintings, and live on today in movies and video games. -- From back cover.

In the first authoritative biography of Alexander the Great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian Philip Freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from Hannibal to Napoleon, with countless more in between. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly: crowned at age nineteen, dead by thirty-two. He established the greatest empire of the ancient world; Greek coins and statues are found as far east as Afghanistan. Our interest in him has never faded. Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Alexander spent nearly all his adult life away from his homeland, and he and his men helped spread the Greek language throughout western Asia, where it would become the lingua franca of the ancient world. Within a short time after Alexander’s death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture. Best known among his successors are the Ptolemies of Egypt, whose empire lasted until Cleopatra. In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander’s astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing—which he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire. Only a handful of people have influenced history as Alexander did, which is why he continues to fascinate us.

The author of Hannibal: Rome’s Greatest Enemy delivers a comprehensive, unbiased portrait of the ancient Celts using Greek and Roman primary sources. “The ancient Celts capture the modern imagination as do few other people of classical times. Naked barbarians charging the Roman legions, Druids performing sacrifices of unspeakable horror, women fighting beside their men and even leading armies—these, along with stunning works of art, are the images most of us call to mind when we think of the Celts,” observes Philip Freeman. “And for the most part, these images are firmly based in the descriptions handed down to us by the Greek and Roman writers.” This book draws on the firsthand observations and early accounts of classical writers to piece together a detailed portrait of the ancient Celtic peoples of Europe and the British Isles. Philip Freeman groups the selections (ranging from short statements to longer treatises) by themes—war, feasting, poetry, religion, women, and the Western Isles. He also presents inscriptions written by the ancient Celts themselves. This wealth of material, introduced and translated by Freeman to be especially accessible to students and general readers, makes this book essential reading for everyone fascinated by the ancient Celts. “I know of no other work that pulls this sort of material together and groups it by such helpful categories (war, feasting, poetry, religion, women, etc.). I will certainly value it in my library and . . . as recommended reading for several of my courses. It will be a nice companion to Freeman''s Ireland and the Classical World.” —Patrick K. Ford, Professor and Chair of Celtic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University

Mark Freeman argues here that hindsight--looking back over the past from the standpoint of the present--can be a profoundly important source of understanding, insight, and moral growth. Indeed, hindsight can be, and often is, a source of truth--of a sort, Freeman contends, that is only available by looking backward. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, literature, memoir, and personal experience, this engaging volume offers an insightful exploration of the role of hindsight both in discerning the truth of one''s past and in crafting a good and worthy life.

A fascinating, comprehensive biography of the cunning Roman conqueror Julius Caesar. More than two thousand years after his death, Julius Caesar remains one of the great figures of history. He shaped Rome for generations, and his name became a synonym for “emperor”—not only in Rome but as far away as Germany and Russia. He is best known as the general who defeated the Gauls and doubled the size of Rome’s territories. But, as Philip Freeman describes in this fascinating new biography, Caesar was also a brilliant orator, an accomplished writer, a skilled politician, and much more. Julius Caesar was a complex man, both hero and villain. He possessed great courage, ambition, honor, and vanity. Born into a noble family that had long been in decline, he advanced his career cunningly, beginning as a priest and eventually becoming Rome’s leading general. He made alliances with his rivals and then discarded them when it suited him. He was a spokesman for the ordinary people of Rome, who rallied around him time and again, but he profited enormously from his conquests and lived opulently. Eventually he was murdered in one of the most famous assassinations in history. Caesar’s contemporaries included some of Rome’s most famous figures, from the generals Marius, Sulla, and Pompey to the orator and legislator Cicero as well as the young politicians Mark Antony and Octavius (later Caesar Augustus). Caesar’s legendary romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra still fascinates us today. In this splendid biography, Freeman presents Caesar in all his dimensions and contradictions. With remarkable clarity and brevity, Freeman shows how Caesar dominated a newly powerful Rome and shaped its destiny. This book will captivate readers discovering Caesar and ancient Rome for the first time as well as those who have a deep interest in the classical world.