A military genius worshiped for his courage; a fierce politician admired for his shrewdness and mercy; a brilliant writer and speaker. It's no wonder that in his lifetime Julius Caesar held the positions of military tribune, praetor, consul, pro-consul and dictator. But even his astounding ambition could not make him emperor, though it did achieve the conquest of Cleopatra, ruler of the most fabulous kingdom in all of known civilization. In this biography of Caesar, acclaimed historian Ernle Bradford steers away from the clichÈs and legends and cuts right to the heart of who Caesar really was - a man who based his entire existence on the pursuit of power.