Julius Caesar's own narrative of the opening year of the Civil War between himself and Pompey is the only surviving account from the classical world of such a conflict written by one of the principals. The apparent clarity of the narrative, and the limpidity and economy of Caesar's style, in fact conceal a tendentious presentation of both his own and his opponent's motives, actions and competence. The influence of dramatic structures on the selection and combination of events related by Caesar is also important. The commentary therefore aims to elucidate not only matters directly referred to in the text, but the whole context of their presentation.
Julius Caesar's own narrative of the opening year of the Civil War between himself and Pompey is the only surviving account from the classical world of such a conflict written by one of the principals. The apparent clarity of the narrative, and the limpidity and economy of Caesar's style, in fact conceal a tendentious presentation of both his own and his opponent's motives, actions and competence. The influence of dramatic structures on the selection and combination of events related by Caesar is also important. The commentary therefore aims to elucidate not only matters directly referred to in the text, but the whole context of their presentation.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Table of Dates
Select Bibliography and Abbreviations
The Civil War Text and Translation of Books I & II
The Civil War Commentary on Books I & II
Index to the Text
J. M. Carter was Senior Lecturer in Classics at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, and an authority on the Late Republican and Augustan periods.
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