Augustus Book

Augustus is written in lucid and colourful style. Inventing all those fictional letters and documents John Williams vividly caught the spirit of the whole historical era.
Perhaps we are wiser when we are young, though the philosopher would dispute with me. But I swear to you, we were friends from that moment onward; and that moment of foolish laughter was a bond stronger than anything that came between us later - victories or defeats, loyalties or betrayals, griefs or joys. But the days of youth go, and part of us goes with them, not to return.
On arriving to power very young, Gaius Octavius Caesar hit the road lying across the endless battlefield…
Down through the ages the history of political power is a history of perfidy and treason…
"Father," I asked, "has it been worth it? Your authority, this Rome that you have saved, this Rome that you have built? Has it been worth all that you have had to do?"
My father looked at me for a long time, and then he looked away. "I must believe that it has," he said. "We both must believe that it has."
Supreme power doesn't make one happy but it offers an unrestricted ability to bring unhappiness to the others…