The Civil War (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading) »

Gaius Julius Caesar was born on 13 July 100 BC. His family, the Julii, claimed descent from the ancient kings of Rome, and from the goddess Venus. Caesar rapidly carved out an impressive political career, forging an alliance with Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC. The Civil War is Caesar's attempt at an explanation of the war that changed the Roman world.

The Civil War is Julius Caesar's personal account of his war with Pompey the Great-the war which destroyed the five hundred-year old Roman Republic. Caesar the victor became Caesar the dictator. In three short books, Caesar describes how, in order to defend his dignitas ("honour"), and the libertas ("freedom") of both himself and the Roman people, he marched on Rome, and defeated the forces of Pompey and the Senate in Italy, Spain, and Greece. Caesar's "commentaries," written in famously simple prose, with the distinctive use of the third person, offer a unique opportunity to read the victor's version of events.