Judgment of Caesar - (Novels of Ancient Rome) by Steven Saylor (Paperback)

About the Book

"In 48 B.C., the epic struggle between the Roman generals Caesar and Pompey is about to reach its climax. As Pompey plots a desperate last stand in Egypt with Caesar in hot pursuit, Gordianus the Finder also arrives in the fabled land of the Pharaohs. Bringing his ailing wife, Bethesda, to seek a cure in the sacred waters of the Nile, Gordianus suddenly finds himself at the heart of a series of history-altering events. Like Rome, Egypt is ravaged by civil war. The royal siblings Ptolemy and Cleopatra feverishly plot against each other in the palace at Alexandria. Caesar's judgment will decide the fate of Egypt--and also the fate of Meto, Goridanus's son, who stands accused of murder. Amid treachery and deceit on a colossal scale, Gordianus must find a way to uncover the carefully obscured truth and save his son's life."--P. [4] of cover.

Book Synopsis

Gordianus the Finder and his ailing wife Bethesda travel to Egypt - Bethesda's homeland - seeking a cure for her enduring, mysterious illness. They arrive as the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey is reaching its conclusion on its shores. Captured by Pompey, but rescued by Ptolemy's men who kill Pompey for Caesar, Gordianus is caught in the middle of the struggle between Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra, Caesar's seduction by Cleopatra, and the dying days of the Roman Republic. When his wife disappears into the Nile, never to resurface, Gordianus must uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious occurrences if he is to find out what has happened to his wife, now presumed dead.

Review Quotes

"But the real substance of the book is Saylor's confident recreation of Alexandria at this crucial moment in both Egyptian and Roman history. As always in Saylor's historical fiction, the interaction between powerful and ordinary people is a great strength, as is the evocation of an ancient city: he does here for Alexandria what he has already achieved for Rome. His Caesar is completely believable, as are his circuitous dealings with the Egyptian queen. Gordianus is as fascinating as he was as a young man, and the novel provides all the customary pleasures of serial fiction. But it also stands in its own right. Saylor evokes the ancient world more convincingly than any other writer of his generation." --Sunday Times (London)

"[A] superb historical novel...the reader is engaged throughout...this is a compelling testament to Saylor's growth as a writer and to his seemingly effortless ability to imagine characters who feel real...longtime fans will find the evolution of Gordianus's personal relationships fascinating, but the back story is not so complex as to bar new readers from entering Saylor's world." --Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"A solid series addition." --Library Journal

"Superb. From the exceptional attention to historical detail to the development of character and plot, which is based on real history, it's a treat to read. All the action takes place in a time of great upheaval both in Rome and Egypt, and Saylor, an excellent scholar, makes the most of it. This is a great getaway novel." --Globe & Mail

"Expert mystery-mongering closely woven into a pageant featuring the most star-studded cast imaginable. Fans of the historical mystery couldn't do better." --Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

About the Author

Steven Saylor is the author of the long running Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel, Roma and its follow-up, Empire. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel. Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.