If you believe in portents, soothsayers, and the like, then the auspices are not good for "Julius Caesar: Great Dictator of Rome." On the opening page there appears a bust of Julius Caesar and a quote from Shakespeare's play of that name, to wit "This was the noblest Roman of them all." The only problem, of course, is that the line is uttered by Marc Antony at the end of the play about Brutus, not Caesar; the compliment is that because of all the conspirators, only Brutus did so because he thought it was the best thing for Rome and not because it furthered his own political ambition. Still, there is reason to hope that those who put together this volume for the DK Discoveries series paid better attention to the historical and biographical details of their subject.

This book is as much about the transformation of the Roman Republic into an Empire as it is a biography of Julius Caesar. We begin by looking as Caesar's Rome and what the Roman world was like when Caesar was born in 100 B.C.E. Richard Platt provides the text and the book combines illustrations by John James and Jim Robins for the key events in Caesar's life while the margins are field with detailed notes and photographs of ancient statues and artifacts. As is usually the case, I like the combination of biography, history and archaeology. The book even puts its subject in the context of the Hero Through History and other Rulers of Rome.

Even if you know the basics of Caesar's life, this book still provides fascinating details. My favorite: The Roman Senate met in the assembly hall at Pompey's theater complex, Rome's grandest building. While Caesar was being assassinated, an audience of thousands of Romans was being entertained on the vast stage next door by gladiators (some of who were hidden in the Senate to help the conspirators). I had never heard that before, having assumed, like most people, that the Roman Senate met at the Roman Senate. There are other equally interesting tidbits (e.g., the Temple of Julius Caesar was built by Augustus on the site of Caesar's cremation). So, despite the opening gaff, this is a solid effort that will help students learn about Julius Caesar and the Rome he helped build.