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The Commentaries cover art

The Commentaries

By: Julius Caesar
Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
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Summary

Julius Caesar wrote his exciting Commentaries during some of the most grueling campaigns ever undertaken by a Roman army. The Gallic Wars and The Civil Wars constitute the greatest series of military dispatches ever written. As literature, they are representative of the finest expressions of Latin prose in its "golden" age, a benchmark of elegant style and masculine brevity imitated by young schoolboys for centuries.

One of the most daring and brilliant generals of all time, Julius Caesar combined the elements of tactical genius with the shrewdness of a master politician. He was an astute judge of men's character - their strengths and weaknesses. Whenever possible, he exercised restraint and mercy even when his worst enemies were in his power. But he also knew when and how to mete out stern punishment and his swift retaliations became a hallmark of his career. With his charismatic leadership, his powerful intellect and his magnetic personal charm, Julius Caesar became the idol of men and women everywhere. The fanatic loyalty of his troops and the adulation of the Roman public propelled him to the pinnacle of power. Historian Will Durant called him "the most complete man that antiquity produced."

Follow along in this recording as Julius Caesar in 50 B.C. undertakes the awesome enterprise of subduing savage Gaul, an area roughly the size of Texas. That task was barely completed before his enemies in Rome struck, igniting the bloody Civil War that engulfed most of the Roman Empire and afterward left Caesar in supreme power.

Public Domain (P)2009 Audio Connoisseur
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Commentaries

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Classic of mispronunciation

I bought this audiobook recently and am absolutely appalled at the mispronunciation of so much of the text by Charlton Griffin. I would be fascinated to know whether English is his first language or whether any audio proof reading was conducted on the recording. It is incoceivable that a professional reader could pronounce ordinary English words so badly.

Apart from the dreadful stressing of words like "forest" which is spokes as "four-est", there are glaring and disconcerting mistakes that leave the listener trying to make sense of the text.

Some examples are
"dogged pursuit" as in "dog-ed" is pronounced "dog'd"
"draught of men" as in "draft", pronounced "drout"
Americanism such as "missile" as in "miss'ile" pronounced "mizzle" and many more
"redoubt" pronounced "read-out"
Pronunciation of French place names in many cases are just not capable of understanding, such as the rivers "Aisne" which comes as "eye-ne" as opposed to "ayne" or "Saone" appearing as "sain" as opposed to "sa-own"
And dozens more of which perhaps the most amusing is the confusion of "route" and "rout", both pronounced "rout".

I wish I had not bought it and would advise readers to look for a better narrator.

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29 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a story

I only read Caesar in latin class 35 years ago and never appreciated what a cracking story he tells. Full of suspense, blame, self aggrandising bombast, propaganda, bravery and cunning.
My only criticism is the translation of all the Latin town names in to current names. They should be given but the original should always be mentioned.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

What a superb leader and tactician

I am in awe of the sheer genius of that giant of a man. It is now no wonder to me why all the great soldiers, statesmen and tacticians of modern history have read and studied Caesar and his triumphs in great detail. Few men in the history of the world have waged war in the manner of Caesar.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really intriguing listen, unfinished IMO

Really good to listen too with a brilliant narrator, it can be difficult for those who may be approaching a Latin/Roman style of writing for the first time, but thoroughly detailed.
Unfortunately it seems to stop in the middle of the siege of Alexandria. I was hoping to at least get to Munda at the “end” of the Civil War.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A genuine act of time travel

A great read. A window into another time. Horror, humanity and the arrogance of an emperor. Here and there the light is cast upon the fear and sorrow felt by people when faced with war. Times have not changed that much.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great

Very informative and brilliant narration, very easy to be gripped and kept me wanting more!

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  • 04-12-17

Amazing insight & great read

This book provides amazing inside to see the strategies of war and politics utilised by Caesar through his own eyes. It provides a glimpse into what type of person he was and his view of Rome, his men and his enemies!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Spectacular

Travel back in time and hear the words of one of the military greatest leaders in history.

The book paints an excellent picture of Rome and it’s occupied states, as well as all the infighting with Pompey. Brilliant battle descriptions and surprising insights as to the level of cooperation and civility Rome had with the occupied states, seemingly misrepresented in cinema quite often.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great window into the past, great production.

Very easy listening well told real account of Ceasars campaigns. Gives a good indication of the Roman military world.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

One of the most riveting books I ever listened to., a great lot learned and well read

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