Born to Roman aristocracy in 100 BC, Julius Caesar became one of the most powerful men in history. He was a military genius, a fierce politician, and a brilliant writer and orator. When he formed an alliance with Pompey and Crassus, the triumvirate of officials took control of the Roman Republic. But Caesar's quest for power was only beginning.

As proconsul, he went to war against the Gallic tribes of the north, extending Roman territory into Gaul, Belgium, Germany, and Britain. When the Gallic Wars ended, the Roman senate called on Caesar to return to private life. But rather than relinquish his title, Caesar led his legion into a civil war that would spell the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.

In this thrilling and thoroughly researched biography, Ernle Bradford cuts through the legends in order to present a truthful and nuanced portrait of a man whose pursuit of power knew no bounds.