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Philip Freeman tells the story of a man whose mere name became synonymous with the word emperor, the legendary Julius Caesar. Summary of the Book Perhaps the most moving story that survives about Julius Caesar is the fact that he felt shame when he encountered a bust of Alexander of Macedon. He regretted at despite having lived a short life, Alexander had achieved so much in his life that it made Caesar’s life seem trivial. He believed no one would remember his name in the future, given that he was already the age that Alexander was when he died. Needless to say, he was very, very wrong. The name of Julius Caesar evokes power, one that is totalitarian and authoritative. The Emperors of Rome who followed after him could not have chosen a better moniker for themselves, styling themselves after the man who turned a Republic into a dictatorship. Julius Caesar was a master strategist, poet, politician and lawyer. At a young age he attracted the attention of the Senate, and he was quickly sent away from Rome. His opponents seemed to think that would deter his growth. They had no idea that the battles he would fight outside Rome would be the ones to earn him his name. Gaius Julius Caesar knew no limits, and when he returned to Rome, the conqueror of Gaul, he quickly wrested control of the Senate and began his machinations. In the years that followed, he accomplished wonders and earned more than the name he hoped for. He earned a legacy, one that stands on the shoulders of one of history’s most able rulers, and made him the subject of one of the greatest tragedies written by the Bard of Avon. In this book, Dr. Freeman discusses Caesar’s early years, dissipating common misconceptions regarding his childhood and youth. He also discusses Caesar’s rise to power, his conquest of Gaul and his fondness for literature. He paints an honest picture of Caesar, gathering resources from all known manuscripts on him. Readers who enjoy history and biographies of political figures will love this book. About Philip Freeman Philip Freeman is an American academic and writer. A graduate of the University of Texas, Dr. Freeman completed his Ph.D. at Harvard. Dr. Freeman has also written The World of Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid's Bones: A Celtic Adventure, Heroes of Olympus and Alexander the Great.