Overview

A translation that captures the power of one of the greatest war stories ever told-Julius Caesar's account of his brutal campaign to conquer GaulImagine a book about an unnecessary war written by the ruthless general of an occupying army-a vivid and dramatic propaganda piece that forces the reader to identify with the conquerors and that is designed, like the war itself, to fuel the limitless political ambitions of the author. Could such a campaign autobiography ever be a great work of literature-perhaps even one of the greatest? It would be easy to think not, but such a book exists-and it helped make Julius Caesar a legend. This remarkable translation of Caesar's War for Gaul captures, like never before in English, the powerfully concise style of the future emperor's dispatches from the front lines in what are today France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland.

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9780691216690

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To publicize his campaigns in Gaul, Julius Caesar invented a new genre--and a direct, swift, but careful narrative style, like a tight skin around the events he recounts. James O'Donnell admirably renders this style in English, ventriloquizing Caesar's mysterious genius.--Sarah Ruden, translator of Augustine's Confessions [A]n excellent translation . . . one that poses important questions about Caesar, his actions in Gaul, and the dying years of the Republic.---Anthony Smart, Bryn Mawr Classical Review A vigorous, modern, and uncluttered translation.---Lawrence Freedman, Foreign Affairs Caesar waged prose as he waged war--in ways swift, economical, and ruthless. One sign of the businesslike slaughter of this book is its author's famous use of the third person about himself. He made the mere word 'Caesar' a weapon to be wielded against his foes. O'Donnell enhances this fine translation by prefacing each yearly report from Gaul with a description of what was going on in Rome at the same time, allowing us to see how profoundly the two streams of action affected each other.--Garry Wills, author of Rome and Rhetoric: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Certainly one for the school library shelves or young friends and relatives (classicists or not) who may well be less acquainted with Caesar.---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All Reviews James O'Donnell has turned De bello Gallico into lucid, convincing, contemporary English. It's a masterclass in translation, and a dangerously appealing introduction to 'the best bad man's book ever written'.---Christopher Whitton, Greece and Rome This book invites us to rethink Caesar's war commentaries not as epic history or grand adventure, but as highly political presentations. The introduction and notes provide rich context, penetrating insight, and grim wit, making clear that Caesar aims not merely to inform but to seduce. As James O'Donnell so strikingly puts it, 'as you put down this volume, you have become Caesar.' --Steven Saylor, author of The Throne of Caesar This modern commentary on the Commentaries also 'lets you see Caesar the man and politician, not just the general he wanted you to see.'---Robert S. Davis, New York Journal of Books The War for Gaul is Caesar's report of his conquest of Gaul, an amoral war and a vastly destructive prelude to political revolution at Rome. O'Donnell does full justice to Caesar's Latin, giving us an account as terse and understated as the original. The introductions preceding each Commentary give the modern reader a sense of the context that the ancient reader brought to the story and show us Caesar in the process of becoming Caesar. --Cynthia Damon, editor and translator of Caesar's Civil War James O'Donnell's version of The War for Gaul is as gripping and readable as Caesar's itself. Brisk, terse, and potent, the translation captures the meaning of the original. It is a marvelous achievement. I sat, I read, I loved. --Barry Strauss, author of The Death of Caesar Most translations of Caesar give the impression that his style is weighty, ponderous, and, frankly, boring, but nothing could be further from the truth. James O'Donnell's version of The War for Gaul is much more successful than others in rendering Caesar's taut, forceful prose in English. In replicating the economy and sweep of Caesar's narrative, O'Donnell's version wins hands down. --James M. May, St. Olaf College No one has come close to capturing Caesar's verbal celerity in anything like the way James O'Donnell has. His disciplined application of a terse, bracing style is both readable and simulates something of the experience of the original audience. This makes for a gripping read and brings out what made Caesar famous as an author in his own time. A genuinely distinctive and valuable translation. --Andrew M. Riggsby, author of Caesar in Gaul and Rome

No one has come close to capturing Caesar's verbal celerity in anything like the way James O'Donnell has. His disciplined application of a terse, bracing style is both readable and simulates something of the experience of the original audience. This makes for a gripping read and brings out what made Caesar famous as an author in his own time. A genuinely distinctive and valuable translation. --Andrew M. Riggsby, author of Caesar in Gaul and Rome Most translations of Caesar give the impression that his style is weighty, ponderous, and, frankly, boring, but nothing could be further from the truth. James O'Donnell's version of The War for Gaul is much more successful than others in rendering Caesar's taut, forceful prose in English. In replicating the economy and sweep of Caesar's narrative, O'Donnell's version wins hands down. --James M. May, St. Olaf College James O'Donnell's version of The War for Gaul is as gripping and readable as Caesar's itself. Brisk, terse, and potent, the translation captures the meaning of the original. It is a marvelous achievement. I sat, I read, I loved. --Barry Strauss, author of The Death of Caesar The War for Gaul is Caesar's report of his conquest of Gaul, an amoral war and a vastly destructive prelude to political revolution at Rome. O'Donnell does full justice to Caesar's Latin, giving us an account as terse and understated as the original. The introductions preceding each Commentary give the modern reader a sense of the context that the ancient reader brought to the story and show us Caesar in the process of becoming Caesar. --Cynthia Damon, editor and translator of Caesar's Civil War This modern commentary on the Commentaries also 'lets you see Caesar the man and politician, not just the general he wanted you to see.'---Robert S. Davis, New York Journal of Books This book invites us to rethink Caesar's war commentaries not as epic history or grand adventure, but as highly political presentations. The introduction and notes provide rich context, penetrating insight, and grim wit, making clear that Caesar aims not merely to inform but to seduce. As James O'Donnell so strikingly puts it, 'as you put down this volume, you have become Caesar.' --Steven Saylor, author of The Throne of Caesar James O'Donnell has turned De bello Gallico into lucid, convincing, contemporary English. It's a masterclass in translation, and a dangerously appealing introduction to 'the best bad man's book ever written'.---Christopher Whitton, Greece and Rome Certainly one for the school library shelves or young friends and relatives (classicists or not) who may well be less acquainted with Caesar.---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All Reviews Caesar waged prose as he waged war--in ways swift, economical, and ruthless. One sign of the businesslike slaughter of this book is its author's famous use of the third person about himself. He made the mere word 'Caesar' a weapon to be wielded against his foes. O'Donnell enhances this fine translation by prefacing each yearly report from Gaul with a description of what was going on in Rome at the same time, allowing us to see how profoundly the two streams of action affected each other.--Garry Wills, author of Rome and Rhetoric: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar A vigorous, modern, and uncluttered translation.---Lawrence Freedman, Foreign Affairs [A]n excellent translation . . . one that poses important questions about Caesar, his actions in Gaul, and the dying years of the Republic.---Anthony Smart, Bryn Mawr Classical Review To publicize his campaigns in Gaul, Julius Caesar invented a new genre--and a direct, swift, but careful narrative style, like a tight skin around the events he recounts. James O'Donnell admirably renders this style in English, ventriloquizing Caesar's mysterious genius.--Sarah Ruden, translator of Augustine's Confessions

Author Information

James J. O'Donnell is professor of history, philosophy, and religious studies and University Librarian at Arizona State University. His books include Pagans, The Ruin of the Roman Empire, and Augustine: A New Biography.

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