Brutus : the noble conspirator /

In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all, and his reputation outlasted his death. He was imagined as a martyr for the liberty his putative ancestor, Junius Brutus, had established when he drove out the Tarquin kings. His father-in-law Cato died--dramatically-- for republican liberty. Yet Brutus appeared ready to collaborate with Caesar until the months before the Ides of March, 44 BCE. Tempest (Latin literature and Roman history, Univ. of Roehampton, UK) takes readers to the contemporary political scene of Rome, dominated by a proud ruling class, wealthy and interconnected by marriage and ambition. Brutus lived in a violent, self-absorbed society that misruled provinces that counted only for profit and military renown. Historical sources are abundant and include the letters of Cicero, so that Tempest can follow a contemporary witness in the days before and after the assassination. The author penetrates the mindset of Brutus, whose father had been killed by Pompey and whose mother had been Caesar's mistress. Once the assassination was done and there was no popular applause, Brutus and co-conspirator Cassius retreated to the east and plundered the provinces to get resources for war. They lost. An excellent, readable biography. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. --James A. S. Evans, emeritus, University of British Columbia

Marcus Brutus (c.85-42 BCE) was immortalized for his collaboration in the conspiracy of the death of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44 BCE. Questions about his motives-were they personal or political? Was he placing what he saw as his duty to his country above his personal obligations? Was he a moral individual?-remain and are at the center of discussions about the time and place. Tempest (Latin and Roman history, Univ. of Roehampton, UK) draws on contemporary and classical sources to delve into the life and times of Brutus and offer some new perspectives into his motivation. She uses his correspondence with Cicero, the records of the perceptions of his peers, and the known values of the aristocrats of the time to present insights into the period and into the character of the man. Jennifer M. Dixon's reading is appropriate-lively or somber as the text warrants. VERDICT The biography is thorough and well researched. ["Thoughtful, clear, and with thorough references and appendixes, this should be a valuable resource for anyone interested in delving into Brutus the historical figure and Brutus the person": LJ 11/1/17 review of the Yale Univ. hc.]-Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.