The Ides of March

A Novel

By: Thornton Wilder

Narrated by: Derek Perkins, Piper Goodeve, Jane Copland, Gary Furlong, Andy Cresswell, Peter Noble, Antony Ferguson, Joan Walker, Morag Sims

“Mr. Wilder has brought to his character the warmth which was totally lacking in the Caesar of schoolbooks and Shakespeare, and in his hero’s destruction there is the true catharsis.”—Edward Weeks, Atlantic

First published in 1948, The Ides of March is a brilliant epistolary novel of the Rome of Julius Caesar. Through imaginary letters and documents, Wilder brings to life a dramatic period of world history and one of its magnetic personalities.

In this novel, the Caesar of history becomes Caesar the human being as he appeared to his family, his legions, his Rome, and his empire in the months just before his death. In Wilder’s inventive narrative, all Rome comes crowding through his pages. Romans of the slums, of the villas, of the palaces, brawling youths and noble ladies and prostitutes, and the spies and assassins stalking Caesar in his Rome.

Vivid, compelling, and engaging, The Ides of March showcases Thornton Wilder’s unique storytelling genius.

Historical Fiction - Fine, But…

I very much admire Thornton Wilder and have made a bit of a project to listen to many of his novels on Audible.

It’s been a very worthy experience. And I’m glad I took it on.

I understand he was very proud of this book, but I must confess to thinking it only good, or, better said, adequate.

The reading is good. The history was worth hearing and understanding. Caesar was a rich character, and his death, dramatic and worth exploring.

But, in my view, it lacks of the quality that best and mostly only truly comes from pure fiction.

I’ll give it 4 stars out of generosity.

Get it, if you want the experience I’ve described.

Strong Recommend

Piecing together a timeline and environment surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar was fun and gave the perfect stage to view Caesar in an incredible light. Not explaining but revealing. Fun book and it must remain clear these are not historically factual events! It is fiction