Amazon Prime Free Trial
FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button and confirm your Prime free trial.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited FREE Prime delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
-18% $9.89$9.89
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
$7.50$7.50
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: RNA TRADE LLC
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Conquest of Gaul (Penguin Classics) Paperback – February 24, 1983
Purchase options and add-ons
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPenguin Classics
- Publication dateFebruary 24, 1983
- Reading age18 years and up
- Dimensions7.82 x 5.14 x 0.65 inches
- ISBN-100140444335
- ISBN-13978-0140444339
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
About the Author
S. Handford translated a number of authors for Penguin, including Sallust and Aesop.
Product details
- Publisher : Penguin Classics; Revised edition (February 24, 1983)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0140444335
- ISBN-13 : 978-0140444339
- Reading age : 18 years and up
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.82 x 5.14 x 0.65 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #85,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #36 in Ancient Rome Biographies
- #120 in Ancient Roman History (Books)
- #675 in Military Leader Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book readable and interesting. They appreciate its historical value and context for Roman civilization. Readers consider it a good purchase and a treat to peer into the past.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book readable and interesting. They say it's educational and a must-read for those interested in Roman civilization. The translation is pleasing and the book is described as a masterpiece.
"...More than two millennia later his story is still exciting, with vivid descriptions of battles and the character of his adversaries, as well as..." Read more
"...this Penguin Classics book one finds what Cesar himself wrote, translated to English." Read more
"...in Gaul round out the content, and makes this volume a useful introduction to new readers who may have no previous experience with this subject...." Read more
"...Both. Required reading for those interested in Roman civilization especially late republic period...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful and valuable for history buffs. They appreciate its historical value, providing context to events and insights into battlefield strategy. Readers also mention it provides a detailed account of the Gallic Conquest and modern political similarities.
"Fascinating insight into Caesar’s methods, tactics, strategy, intelligence, and adaptability...." Read more
"Julius Caesar was one of the greatest military and political minds who ever lived...." Read more
"...by the translator S.A. Handford which provides valuable context to the events taking place; clarifying geography and the identity of figures..." Read more
"...Stuff this old wasn't often documented this well so it's a treat to peer into the past." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it's a good purchase if you're looking to add to your book collection.
"...The translation by Jane Gardner, et al. is very good. Thank you." Read more
"...A great glimpse into the political, economic, and military aspects of ancient North-West Europe." Read more
"A good purchase if you're looking to add to your book collection!" Read more
"Excellent item, I have no buyers regret. It has met or exceeded my expectations. I roecommend this product. Thank you" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2024Fascinating insight into Caesar’s methods, tactics, strategy, intelligence, and adaptability. Reading his campaign in Gaul gives further insight into how he would’ve prevailed against Pompey despite the odds against him and why his troops were so unquestioningly loyal to match on their own government on his orders
- Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2011Julius Caesar was one of the greatest military and political minds who ever lived. Reading Caesar's Gallic war memoirs a second time after the passage of nearly 50 years was a great reading experience for me. I first read it in my high school Latin class in the early 1960s, but most of what I had remembered was the Latin words and grammar, rather than the narrative itself. Caesar knew how to tell a rip-roaring adventure story. More than two millennia later his story is still exciting, with vivid descriptions of battles and the character of his adversaries, as well as enlightening explanations of why he used the particular strategies that he did. Of course he had a political motivation for writing his story the way he did, which makes the book even more complex and interesting. I'd strongly recommend reading this book in tandem with Machiavelli's THE PRINCE just to show how mutually supportive both books are. I basically liked the translation, despite the amusing Britishisms. (Example: "There were only five hundred of them, but the mere fact that German aid had come was enough to make these natives cock-a-hoop.") But I know how deadly some Latin translations can be when the translator sticks too closely to the Latin grammar. This translation is very readable with excellent notes by translator S.A. Handford and editor Jane Gardner. My only real complaint is that the maps at the back of the book are not nearly detailed enough to really be useful. This generally is considered one of the most important books ever written for many reasons. I'd recommend this translation, but I'd also suggest getting Chris Scarre's THE PENGUIN HISTORICAL ATLAS OF ANCIENT ROME, to enhance and further clarify the experience. Five stars.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2021This work is a translation of the writings ("Commentaries") by Julius Cesar about his campaigns in Gaul, comprising what is today's France and Belgium, written by Cesar in the 3rd person. Reading some of the comments by others who bought this book, I can see that this has caused some confusion among those who were expecting it will be written in the first person, in Julius Cesar's own voice, and thought they have been deceived and received instead a commentary on this work written by someone else. No: this is the real article. I have a bilingual version with both an English translation and the original Latin work as written by Cesar, and the English translation is the same as in this book, except for differences in translator style, and both this translation and that other one already in my possession are in close agreement with the Latin original. So in this Penguin Classics book one finds what Cesar himself wrote, translated to English.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024Gaius Julius Caesar was easily one of the most famous men who has ever lived, and even in the present day his name represents power and grandeur. He was also a very respected (if biased) writer, who penned many books in-between his politicking and military campaigns. 'The Conquest of Gaul' (Commentarii de Bello Gallico in Latin) is one of his two surviving writings passed down the generations, and our major source on his astounding conquest of Greater Gaul (roughly modern day Northern France, Belgium, and Luxembourg) from 58-52 BC.
For comparison, it had taken the Roman Republic roughly three hundred and fifty years to conquer the Gallic tribes of Northern Italy and the coast of Southern France, but Caesar pacified an even larger and more heavily populated region in just six years, all while launching additional forays into Britain and west Germany. Even taking into account his memoir of this campaign was self-serving propaganda meant to justify his violations of Roman law and subsequent launching of a civil war to become dictator, it is of immense historical value and a view into the mind of a military genius. It is also very brisk reading, as Caesar was a man who believed in writing in as simple and direct a manner as possible without compromising detail. Even translated into modern English, his distinct voice comes through clearly. This becomes more obvious when reading the eighth and final part of the book, which was written by one of his generals after Caesar's assassination and covers a final minor rebellion from 51-50 BC.
Outside of the text proper, we have a number of footnotes and appendixes by the translator S.A. Handford which provides valuable context to the events taking place; clarifying geography and the identity of figures mentioned by Caesar that would have been obvious to the Roman elite of the time but are obscure today. Handford also take pains to clarify when Caesar is contradicting himself in the text, which happens more than once. Several maps and a brief essay on the structure and equipment of the Roman Army in Gaul round out the content, and makes this volume a useful introduction to new readers who may have no previous experience with this subject.
The only reason I am taking a star off this product is the shoddy quality of the cover. I understand this is a softcover printed with cheaper materials to keep prices down but it should not start to scratch or peel within days of delivery. Even a small scrape against the interior of a book-bag will start to peel off the surface of the cover and that makes it come off as very flimsy. If you are planning to keep this volume for the long term, you will have to handle it with great care to prevent further wear. I may just buy a hardback copy in the future to avoid this problem again.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2022Propaganda for the home crowd or irreplaceable historical account? Both. Required reading for those interested in Roman civilization especially late republic period. Stuff this old wasn't often documented this well so it's a treat to peer into the past.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2020There is so much of modern people’s and history that Caesar and the Romans who conquered Gaul have influenced. Caesar defeats his enemies but never at the cost of his armies. He administers peace in a manner to prevent war. This is a great read and gives us a look into the culture of conquest during the time of Caesar.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022An excellent Penguin edition of the Gallic wars. Very pleasing translation and extremely educational to read.
Top reviews from other countries
- Good for the PriceReviewed in Spain on February 7, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Book
Written by Julius Caesar, and offers a glimpse into the brutal world and times he lived in.
- JukessterReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading
One of the few primary sources written by a general contemporarily to their campaign. Essential for understanding the war in Gaul, the first invasions of Britain and the set-up to the later Civil war. Translation is brilliant, very digestible and still stays true to the essence of the original Latin.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on June 11, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Cicero himself stated the Caesar was a fantastic writer and I must admit that there is not ...
A must read for any fan of Roman history. Cicero himself stated the Caesar was a fantastic writer and I must admit that there is not a single word wasted. I have read this book 6 times over the years and loved it every time.
- BiplabReviewed in India on December 8, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and yet simple
Excellent commentary and a treat for any lover of ancient history
- Eric ChuReviewed in Australia on March 30, 2021
3.0 out of 5 stars Caesar’s campaign in Gaul
Read the book by Julius Caesar on his campaign in Gaul. Interesting but slightly bland, with his unemotional and colourless mode of writing, recording facts, telling the story precisely and putting no spin on the material. Glad that I read it, making connection with the great man who died two thousand years ago, but have no desire to read another book by him.