All Hail the Emperor: A Book Review of Genevieve Foster's "Augustus Caesar's World"

Many have heard of Octavian, better known as Augustus Caesar. Very few, though, have thought about his story from a first-person standpoint. Genevieve Foster used a process called "horizontal history" to write about Augustus' life. Horizontal history is when you study a person or place and also the other cultures/people around the world at that time. In addition to the main story of Augustus, Augustus Caesar's World also has side stories concerning the Jews (as well as King Herod and Jesus), Buddha, Confucius, and others.

SUMMARY

   As Augustus Caesar's World covers Augustus' life, there is a lot of information. On top of that, there are also the stories of Herod, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Jesus Christ, among others.
   The book starts with Augustus (called Octavian at this point) consulting with a soothsayer (or fortune teller). She reads the stars and is stunned by the amazing future Julius Caesar's nephew has ahead of him.
   The initial story sees the rise of Octavian to power and especially the favor he gains with his uncle Julius Caesar, dictator-emperor of Rome. The boy Octavian is weak, pale, and often sickly, though he does accompany Caesar on his conquest of Africa. Readers are also told the tales of Cleopatra and her devious relationships with Marc Antony and Julius Caesar (as well as her son Ptolemy).
   There are also some chapters that focus on Virgil, Livy, and the loyal Cicero. These chapters also are about the rise of Octavian to Emperor Augustus Caesar, and how he corrupted the political system of Rome (essentially becoming a dictator, like his uncle before him).
   Between stories from Rome and its surrounding lands, readers also are told the stories of Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia. There is a lot of focus on the Jewish rebellions against Rome, as well as the general hatred for the Roman-placed king.
   The book ends with the death of Augustus Caesar and Christianity as the new religion for Rome.

CONTENT
   As this book deals mostly with Rome, you can imagine there is quite an amount of violence. During the reigns of Julius and Augustus Caesar, their empire was at war, especially with the German "barbarians." While the violence is not too descriptive (with a few possible exceptions), it is a recurring theme throughout the book.
   While there is no specific sexual content, some things are hinted at. For example, Julius Caesar is not married to Cleopatra, though their son Ptolemy is mentioned several times. Also, Mark Antony is quite the womanizer, as (by the end of the book) he has two wives and a lover. Like I said, there is nothing specifically detailed, but it is mentioned.
   Since Augustus Caesar's World is more of a biography than a novel, there is no foul language that I remember.
   Because the book shows not only Rome, but other countries at the time, there are multiple religions mentioned and discussed (i.e. Buddha, the Greco-Roman Olympians, etc.). While Christianity has more of a focus than others, none of the beliefs are presented as true or false. Foster, though, seemed to believe that all religions lead to heaven, though this is quite subtle and likely won't be clear unless you are looking for it.
   Augustus Caesar's World is a well-written, interesting, and informative account of the life of Caesar and the world in which he lived. While it is written more simplistically than most biographies, it is not a children's book. There are, however, many parts than can be beneficial to elementary-aged students. Overall, I liked it and I think any history fans will too!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 334
Author of book: Genevieve Foster
Published in: 1947
Primary audience: Pre-teens (with parent supervision), teens (readability is at a slightly younger level, but not necessarily content)