Buy new:
$19.82
FREE delivery Friday, May 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
List Price: $21.99 Details

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Save: $2.17 (10%)
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, May 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 2 hrs 3 mins
In Stock
$$19.82 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$19.82
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery Friday, May 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by Burlington MA- Used Book Superstore -new books too
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: A typical used book in Very Good condition. It shows light use with some slight noticeable wear. No markings on pages (other than possibly previous owner's name/note or remainder mark on edge). We carefully inspected this book and pages are unmarked and binding is intact. Comes with Super Fast Shipping – usually leaves warehouse within 24 hours. Professional packaging with tracking number and 24/7 customer service provided at no additional cost. 100% satisfaction guaranteed with every purchase!

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

J. F. C. Fuller
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, And Tyrant (Da Capo Paperback) Paperback – March 22, 1991

by J. F. C. Fuller (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 22 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$19.82","priceAmount":19.82,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"19","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"82","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"T0YaFDLOCt2nsZUd8LXAioykI1ra%2BdGIAswKH6k2r8i3zGRrHEsg2cuoj1t8C%2BWGv%2FjpVs8kvltaI4WWE3UhKakOdtRSFLGEn5QAjtBqXVbzt%2F8cx1xLY%2FTPFpcawfSatRnchJqNjJE%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$10.13","priceAmount":10.13,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"13","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"T0YaFDLOCt2nsZUd8LXAioykI1ra%2BdGIrWMtNPna8pc%2BQwbT8%2BkUaNgenLrB1VVZRgSuMqK9PeOfyHGbdAkghXhiuZyGhpomZUwVETcGEzvSwDNxCYELTQVgTk9XM%2BYIL88rd3t%2FrUZ5dUBRLI364c1w2V%2BI6fQJtIsmBGk8vj8xAt1d7iU7kA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons


Since the Renaissance, Julius Caesar has been idolized as a superman. Classical sources, however, present a far less exalted being. As General Fuller writes, Caesar was "an unscrupulous demagogue whose one aim was power, and a general who could not only win brilliant victories but also commit dismal blunders. . . . It is reasonable to suspect that, at times, Caesar was not responsible for his actions, and toward the end of his life, not altogether sane." There is not doubt that Caesar was an extraordinary man." But Fuller points out that he was extraordinary for his reckless ambition, matchless daring, and ruthless tyranny, rather than for his skills as a military commander. Caesar continually had to extricate himself from results of mistakes of judgement. His unnecessary Alexandrian War, his close call at Thapsus, and his seemingly unpremeditated Gallic conquest are just a few of Fuller's many examples.And in telling Caesar's history, Fuller illuminates a century of Roman history as well. Aided by maps of Caesar's principal battles and diagrams of many of his weapons, Fuller brings to life Caesar's wars, his armies, his equipment, and his methods. Brilliant in design and impressive in scope, Julius Caesar clarifies how the military, political, and economic aspects of the Roman Republic worked together to produce a man whose name has come down to us as a synonym for absolute authority.
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Wordsworth Military Library
  2. Print length
    336 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 22, 1991
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.85 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0306804220
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0306804229
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, And Tyrant (Da Capo Paperback)
$19.82
Get it as soon as Friday, May 3
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Generalship of Alexander the Great
$16.43
Get it as soon as Friday, May 3
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Generalship Of Ulysses S. Grant
$22.42
Get it as soon as Friday, May 3
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Major General J. F. C. Fuller (1878-1966) was one of the most important and original military thinkers of this century. He served as lieutenant in the Boer War, organized the first British tank corps in World War I, and developed the strategy and tactics of tank warfare which were later put to such effective use by the Nazis for their World War II blitzkriegs. His many books include A Military History of the Western World (3 volumes), The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant, Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, and Tyrant, and The Generalship of Alexander the Great,all of which are available from Da Capo Press.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Press (March 22, 1991)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0306804220
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0306804229
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.85 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
J. F. C. Fuller

J. F. C. Fuller

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
22 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dorri of Colorado
5.0 out of 5 stars Very comprehensive history of Caesar.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Nice narration of a really good history of Julius Caesar. Fuller was a historian and researched his subjects,
Helpful
 Report
Gerald Hendrix
5.0 out of 5 stars Good looking book
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2018
Verified Purchase
Book was in great condition, and reasonably priced.
Helpful
 Report
JAN YOUNG
1.0 out of 5 stars There is only 5% in the book talk about Julius ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
There is only 5% in the book talk about Julius Caesar. The title is misleading. I don't lie the book at all
Helpful
 Report
Douglas E. Libert
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a critical biography so if Caesar is your ultimate hero-don't read this book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2014
The writer seems to be aware of both the writings of Karl Marx and Malthus-Caesar in this book comes off more as a tyrant although maybe( notice I say maybe),not as bad as Sulla. Since Sulla's military chronicles were destroyed it would have been interesting to compare the two Roman military commanders. So what was the glorious Roman Republic that every writer seems to glorify? According to Fuller's book and others I read as well it seems like a plutocracy disguised with a "power to the people" ever so thin veneer. The Roman Army is little above a group of mercenery armies that are more influenced by their individual military heirarchy than any abstraction that might be called a Roman State. True however the armies are given some weaponry and supplies from a Roman government which appears to be mainly unstable a lot of the time. Is it the Roman Civil War or the Roman Civil Wars? I get the feeling from reading Fuller's book that Caesar was a master enslaver,like he had to enslave or be himself enslaved, manipulated by the times more than shaping events. True Caesar could be merciful to defeated enemies but more often he seems whimsical in this regard, with no consistent policy(like no Geneva Convention rules for warfare so hope he wasn't having a bad day.) He takes a lot of chances and sometimes doesn't come out on top in this book. I had read in other books that some of the Germanic tribes he bested were actually fleeing a famine and even a short period of climatic upheaval. As Fuller points out the Romans never did quite figure out how to beat the Parthians,other than trying to buy them out. The author concludes that Caesar was at his best when fighting a tactical battle, but as far as long term vision or strategy for any type of empire he was more a follower than a leader. The conspirators who assasinated him were no better than him in any way, mainly pardoned Generals of Pompey's faction,who were enamored with the abstract idea of the "Republic",(which may have existed in name only), and their own personal glory and the spoils of the Roman plutocracy.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Akorps
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant book, though Fuller made no effort to give ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2014
Absolutely brilliant book, though Fuller made no effort to give it any flash or showiness. The distilled wisdom of a lifetime, the last book by the greatest strategist of the 20th century. Fuller fans probably will get a lot out of it. I find myself thinking about the issues raised in this book more than any other of Fuller's books. Too bad Fuller didn't have time to write similar books about other great generals. If it comes across as dry reading, probably you missed the profundity of Fuller's writing.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Konrad Baumeister
3.0 out of 5 stars somewhat disappointing glance at a giant
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2011
Fuller's last book was also his least, in terms of original insight and depth of research. Fuller had written a number of books on military history and biography of military men, even strategic thinking and historical analysis on the First and Second World War; here, the work comes across as somewhat tired and a little cranky.

His general theory is that at times Julius Caesar was not fully responsible for actions he took; that he was exceedingly lucky rather than good; and that towards the end of his life, he may not have been altogether sane. To that end, he starts he biography well, with good political background pre-Gallic conquest, but after this the book drops off. There is nothing in his recounting of the Gallic Wars that is not better brought out by Caesar himself in his own works, and the Civil Wars are better handled ana analyzed by numerous other Roman historians, again including Caesar himself if one reads closely and between some of the lines.

Fuller maintains that Caesar had no real politics of his own; he was simply an opportunist willing grasp at whatever circumstances seemed to offer the quicker route to more and more power. He was neither a military reformer or innovator, and his dismissal of politics per se as an ideology is shown to be shallow or non-existant by his switching allegiances from his natural Optimates status at birth to the Populares and then back again when the proper marriage made that useful. Fuller brings him out not as one of the greatest generals who ever lived - a not uncommon point of view among other biographers and for that matter this reviewer - but as a highly charismatic and brave general but one of otherwise only middling talent, stumling through a charmed career. For example, he faced and eventually beat, over a decade, barbarians such as the Gauls and a few Celtic tribes, but never had to face down a serious and quasi-civilized cavary-based army such as the Parthians fielded; moreover, even in his own legitimate triumphs, there were times of poor judgment (first invasion of Britain, e.g., as well as numerous cases in dealing with the Gauls), and just plain luck.

Instead of being, therefore, THE MAN, he becomes under Fuller he becomes simply the man who happened to be there when Rome reached its final tipping point of the long revolution, where the Senate finally fully lost control of the army to charismatic generals such as Marius, Sulla, etc., and the state itself was finally brought down. Even once the Republic became whatever it was under Caesar's short dictatorship, the tension remained unresolved until a workable solution was finally found, some years later, by Octavian, after yet another destructive civil war, in the founding of the Principate.

As a biography of Caesar, there are much better available; as a book for Fuller aficionados, this is disappointing. It remains worth reading for another view of a controversial figure pivotal to history; but it's not the only book to read.
11 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Erin
5.0 out of 5 stars unequivocably one of the best pieces of literature!
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2005
This book is essential for anyone studying the Roman Republic and the impact of Julius Caesar. The writings in this book are very well thought out and the depth of the history comes to life in each and every sentence. Anyone wanting to learn about Julius Caesar can take away a sense of knowing a legend and feel that this book doesn't just repeat all of the others that are similar in topic -it teaches you someone else's point of view on the history and cause.

Very much enjoyable. I can't wait to read it again!
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Keith C.
4.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly but rather dry
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2019
I read this book along with Rom Holland's Rubicon and Fuller's account suffered by comparison to Holland's rich portrait of the man. Fuller, being a military historian, does give a thorough background on Roman warfare, but overall the book feels a bit dated
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
William R. Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2015
Verified Purchase
Excellent. Accurate & written by someone who knows whereof he speaks.
Report
Charlier
3.0 out of 5 stars César vu par un anglais.
Reviewed in France on March 10, 2012
Verified Purchase
La plupart des biographes de César manifestent envers leur sujet une certaine empathie, sympathie ou même admiration. Cet auteur, un Anglais, est au contraire très critique envers César, à son avis mauvais homme d'Etat, et général commettant de nombreuses erreurs de tactique et de stratégie, piètre organisateur, n'apportant rien de neuf à l'art de la guerre de son époque. On peut considérer que cette critique systématique fait contre-poids à l'admiration systématique d'autres historiens ! (Pas de bibliographie, ce qui est regrettable).
Report
arbiter
1.0 out of 5 stars lack of objectivity and analytical consistency
Reviewed in Germany on August 6, 2011
Verified Purchase
Quite frankly, I had bought this book as a supplement to Caesar's two war accounts to learn more about Roman military tactics. I was lured by the boastful description of Fuller as "the Clausewitz of the 20th century".

I was so disappointed.

In Suetonius' "Divus Iulius" we read in chapter 54, "for AS CERTAIN MEN HAVE DECLARED in their memoirs ... in his first consulship he stole three thousand pounds of gold from the Capitol, replacing it with the same weight of gilded bronze." Therefore, this is a RUMOUR.
Mr. Fuller, you present it as FACT, and thereby you not only quote out of context but present things out of character with the subject of your analysis.
Kindly recall: Caesar RETURNED the 6 million sesterces to Ahenobarbus at Corfinium, because he did not want to appear a thief. (Caesar BC 23). Do you honestly believe he would, on such a public platform like Rome, commit a political blunder of the kind you accuse him of?
Recall, as well, that prior to his candidature as a consul Caesar had returned from Further Spain with booty and donations from grateful towns for his splendid governorship. (Not one rumour about the usual extortion there!) Ergo, there was NO NEED to pillage Rome. This, by the way, also belies your vicious allegation that Caesar was not a statesman who knows how to "establish justice, harmony and prosperity", page 311.

Moreover I cast doubts on his military judgement considering his evaluation of Dyrrhachium.
He claims in chapter XIV,6, that Caesar could have avoided defeat if he had not detached Calvinus with two legions to intercept Metellus Scipio. He seems to have forgotten his own words on page 224 that it was two Allobrogian embezzlers who defected and betrayed Caesar's weak point in the contravallation of the town. No number of legionaries is a counterweight to that.
In blatant contradiction to this is his prior praise of Caesar's ability to demoralise an enemy by attacking him from the rear. Is it inconceivable to a military mind that Caesar wanted to pre-empt exactly that when detaching Calvinus?

Fuller also claims, that there is too little information on his campaign in Hispania Ulterior to get a picture. First, Cassius Dio devotes TWO chapters in book 37 to it. Second, Colonel Theodore Dodge draws convincing conclusions from them. Have you visited the terrain, sir?

Furthermore, on page 237 he belittles Caesar's victory at Pharsalus by claiming that most fighters on Pompeius' left flank did not participate in the battle, so Caesar's reserve of six cohorts (his brilliant contribution to military warfare) faced little resistance. His words: "This is pure Munchausen, and really will not do".
It may come as a surprise, Mr. Fuller, but it DID WORK. First, correct your numbers (e.g. six cohorts are 6x480 men = 2,880 men, not 1,600 men.) Second, your 3,000 archers and 1,200 slingers are NOT agile troops compared to Caesar's cavalry of 1,000 which were not killed by Pompeius' ala. Deserted by Labienus, they were easy targets, as YOU should know. Third, doesn't it rather show Labienus' second rate as military commander not to envision this manoeuvre of his ex-boss which he [Labienus] was ordered to implement at Alesia?

Tantamount to libel is Fuller's allegation of Caesar's attitude being "Après moi le deluge", p. 311. Caesar established a system of government, time reckoning and economy to last centuries - and, incidentally, gave his life for it.

Statements like the ones mentioned above are but a few examples that prove J. F. C. Fuller does not approach his subject in any way objectively. His chapter III is full of the most vicious slander and incorrect statements, like calling (page 60) the aedileship "the FIRST rung on the political ladder" (correct: quaestorship) and "forgetting" (page 69) that Caesar's agrarian bill explicitly forbade evictions of previous tenants.

Fuller's bias is completely exposed in his statement "to condemn Caesar as a criminal is no insult", page 69. What is his basis for such whole scale defamation? Where is "in dubio pro reo"? Where is the well-deserved criticism of the senate's corruption?

THERE ARE PLENTY MORE POINTS OF CRITICISM I might make on that book but, like reading it, it would be a waste of time.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Gisli Jokull Gislason
3.0 out of 5 stars Historical man, heavy book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2004
Verified Purchase
Julius Ceasar is without doubt amongst the giants of history and his life is very interesting. The book is however a bit heavy to read and although I presume it is quite accurate it doesn't flow.
I found the book fairly easy to read at the beginnig and again throughout the civil war with Pompay. But the middle half and better part describes his campaigns in Gaul. This part was for me the most tedious to read, all the different tribes allying or waring against Ceasar from time to time becomes hard and a bit boring to follow as well as the constant mention of ...here he stayed because there was a good supply of corn ...he waited until he could supply his army with corn. All in all I think corn is mentioned about two times every page during the Gallic Wars and although it brings into light the difficulty of supplying an army in the field it is a dull prespective of a quartermaster.
On the good side the book is imformative and reasonably priced and gives a good account of the life of this great man.
6 people found this helpful
 Report
PHILIPPOS VOIDOMATIS
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2014
Verified Purchase
item arrived inex ellent condition
Report