The Gods of War

In 49 BC, Julius returns from Gaul and Britain with his legions, crosses the Rubicon and marches on Rome to face his enemies. Civil war breaks out, and he wins it. In Egypt, he has a romance with the young queen Cleopatra. Back in Rome in triumph, a cowed Senate names him Dictator for Life and declares him an Unconquered God. That unchecked power alarms those who claim to defend the Republic. His enemies, among them his friend Marcus Brutus, begin to plot against him. Five years after the book opens, on the Ides of March, Julius Caesar is assassinated.

1. Behind the scenesMeant to be the last

   In 2006, the book came out as the fourth and final volume of the Caesar series. Seven years later, Iggulden returned with a fifth.

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2. ReferenceAll for one look

   Early in the series, Iggulden said he wanted to give the famous "et tu, Brute" moment real weight, "so that we know what it means when they look at each other." That is why their friendship runs back to book one.

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3. Behind the scenesLiberties with history

   Publishers Weekly praised the plotting and action but warned that the novel takes considerable liberties with the historical record. It humanizes Caesar, brutal in war and tender at home.

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