McCullough's legion of readers now dwarfs Caesar's own considerable army. She deftly handles a large cast of characters and brings welcome humanity to such historical icons as the conniving Brutus, indecisive Pompey and young, charismatic Mark Antony. As usual, McCullough applies her historical research judiciously and skillfully, integrating details that drive her story forward. His overwhelming grief when his daughter Julia dies is just one of several instances in which he exhibits unexpected vulnerability. It is always Julius Caesar, however, who is the focus of attention, and although McCullough makes much of the great man's dignitas, she also lets readers into his most private tribulations. Around these military events, McCullough constructs various synchronous plot lines, including the political machinations of the Roman senate, the complex entanglements (romantic and otherwise) of key Roman families and life in the Egyptian court of Queen Cleopatra.

Kirkus reviews noted that the book was dense for the average reader, but enjoyable for the 'armchair general.The fifth book (after Caesar's Women) in McCullough's popular Masters of Rome series depicts Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul, his momentous decision to cross the Rubicon and his eventual defeat of rival Pompey at Pharsalus. Some of the pivotal moments include Caesar's return from Britannia his narrow escape during the battle of Gergovia his great victory at Alesia, which involved the complete circumvallation of the citadel, the repulse of a relief force, and the acceptance of the surrender of Vercingetorix his final destruction of the Gallic resistance at Uxellodunum the death of Julia and Marcus Licinius Crassus his falling out with Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and the final collapse of the First Triumvirate system his failed negotiations concerning his re-election as consul the opening of the Civil War the Battle of Dyrrhachium and the Battle of Pharsalus the flight of Pompey to Ptolemaic Egypt and his assassination there and the scattering of the 'boni' leadership. The first half of the novel deals broadly with the conclusion of his conquests in Gaul, and the second half narrates the growing sense of unease in Rome concerning Caesar's intentions, the antagonism of the conservative 'boni' faction towards him, his crossing of the Rubicon, his invasion of Italy and his victory in the Civil War. The novel opens in 54 BC, with Caesar in the middle of his epochal Gallic campaigns, having just invaded Britannia. Caesar: Let the Dice Fly is the fifth historical novel in Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series.

Caesar by colleen mccullough