Pompey the Great (Classical Lives) Book

The author makes exhaustive use of surviving ancient sources to reconstruct as much as possible of Pompey's life, giving particular emphasis to the political, military, and financial success. The familiar-to-all part of Pompey's story -- that of his defeat at Pharsalus and murder by agents of Ptolemy -- are briefly covered and fleshed out just a bit. I liked the author's dispassionate approach to his subject, as well as his analysis of Pompey's character and his impact on Rome.Also appreciated is the author's detailed description of the melee that went on during the period generally known as the late republic. Reasons for the shifting alliances among the aristocrats involved in Roman politics are illuminated, and Leach manages to put flesh and blood on some of the cardboard cutouts and marble men to the point that most readers will find they never knew much about the real people.Read More