John Williams - Augustus, an under-rated gem.

In 1973, the author John Williams (1922-1994) published his fourth novel, Augustus, an epistolary novel telling the story of the Emperor Augustus (Octavian), from his early life through to old age and covers his efforts to bring in a time of peace and cooperation in Rome after the civil wars, commonly referred to as the Pax Romana or the Pax Augusta.

Although it won several award after publication, Augustus was out of print for many years but has recentlyseen a resurgence of interest, particularly on BookTube. For an excellent and enthusiastic review, watch this video from The Library of Allenxandria:



1. Augustus

A brilliant and beautifully written novel in the tradition of Robert Graves’ I, Claudius, Augustus is a sweeping narrative that brings vividly to life a compelling cast of historical figures through their letters, dispatches, and memoirs.

A mere 18 years of age when his uncle, Julius Caesar, is murdered, Octavius Caesar prematurely inherits rule of the Roman Republic. Surrounded by men who are jockeying for power—Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Mark Antony—young Octavius must work against the powerful Roman political machinations to claim his destiny as first Roman emperor.

Sprung from meticulous research and the pen of a true poet, Augustus tells the story of one man’s dream to liberate a corrupt Rome from the fancy of the capriciously crooked and the wildly wealthy.

Paperback: Latest edition: 2003 Publisher: Vintage Classics ISBN: 978-0099445081 Pages: 352 Availability and latest price on Amazon:

Kindle: Latest edition:2013 Publisher: Vintage Digital Availability and latest price on Amazon:

Audiobook: Latest edition: 2011 Publisher: Blackstone Audio Narrator: Robin Field Length: 14 hrs 16 mins Availability and latest price on Amazon:

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