The World History Shelf

Julius Caesar in Egypt
Philip Matyszak
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399097369, $34.95, HC, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Julius-Caesar-Egypt-Cleopatra-Alexandria/dp/13990973=
69

Synopsis: In 48 BC the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great fought =
a decisive battle at Pharsalus in Greece. Pompey was comprehensively defeat=
ed and fled to the last power in the Mediterranean world that was independe=
nt of Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt. Caesar pursued Pompey and was presented with h=
is severed head, which the Egyptians hoped would make Caesar leave them in = peace.

Instead, Caesar (as if he did not have enough to do already) plunged gleefu= lly into the world of Egyptian palace politics, riven by dynastic dispute. =
He quickly sided with the beguiling Queen Cleopatra (after her famous carpe=
t trick), despite having little more than a bodyguard with him. Most of his=
army was still in Greece, leaving him massively outnumbered by the Egyptia=
n forces. The Romans were besieged in Alexandria for seven months before re= inforcements could get through to them.

"Julius Caesar in Egypt: Cleopatra and the War in Alexandria" is a true sto=
ry of double-cross, assassination and intrigue accompanied by lively battle=
s, daring escapes, disastrous fires (the Great Library of Alexandria was la= rgely destroyed in one fracas) and, if not a love story, this is at least a=
compelling tale of sex and power as Caesar and Cleopatra's relationship sh= aped these world-changing events.

Critique: A solid work of impressively meticulous and exceptionally informa= tive scholarship, this is a history of Julius Caesar and Ancient Roman that=
reads with all the narrative style of a finely honed novel. "Julius Caesar=
in Egypt: Cleopatra and the War in Alexandria" by Professor Philip Matysza=
k is an extraordinary and invaluable contribution to personal, professional=
, community, college, and university library Roman & Egyptian History colle= ctions and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for st= udents, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an in= terest in the subject that "Julius Caesar in Egypt: Cleopatra and the War i=
n Alexandria" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Philip 'Maty' Matyszak (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phili= p_Matyszak) holds a doctorate in Ancient History from St John's College, Ox= ford University, and has been studying, teaching and writing on the subject=
for over twenty years. He specializes in the history of Classical Greece a=
nd of the Late Republic and Early Imperial periods of Rome. Maty has person=
al military experience both as a conscript in Rhodesia and with the Territo= rial Army in Britain. Currently, he splits his time between writing in his = home in Canada's Monashee Mountains and providing e-learning courses for Ca= mbridge University's Institute of Continuing Education.

Epicurus and His Influence on History
Ben Gazur
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399073523, $36.95, HC, 232pp

https://www.amazon.com/Epicurus-His-Influence-History-Gazur/dp/1399073524

Synopsis: Epicurus (341-270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage w=
ho founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. In anci= ent Greece Epicurus came up with a pleasingly simple answer to a question. = "How should we live?"

The philosopher Epicurus taught his followers that pleasure and contentment=
were the aims of the good life. For hundreds of years Epicureanism was one=
of the dominant schools of philosophy.

But by the 6th century it had all but disappeared. Discovering how and why = Epicureanism was driven from philosophy and public discourse reveals much a= bout how Western thought developed. Despite attempts to erase him, the less= ons of Epicurus have been recovered from the mists of time and the ashes of=
Vesuvius. How he was restored to his place in history is a story of brilli= ant Renaissance scholars, chance discoveries, and a hunger for intellectual=
freedom.

With the publication of "Epicurus and His Influence on History", Ben Gazur = offers a new biography of Epicurus that reveals the life of Epicurus and tr= aces how his teachings have influenced thinkers across time.

Epicurus still has much to teach us about friendship, happiness, and our pl= ace in the world.

Critique: Deftly organized into four major sections (Epicurus' Philosophy; = The Philosopher; Classical Reception; Recovering Epicurus), "Epicurus and H=
is Influence on History" is informatively enhanced with the inclusion of an=
Introduction and Epilogue, a two page General Bibliography, and a three pa=
ge Index. A fascinating and eloquently presented biography, "Epicurus and H=
is Influence on History" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to pe= rsonal, community, college, and university library Ancien Greek history, bi= ography, and philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lis= ts.

Editorial Note: Ben Gazur (https://www.bengazur.com) holds a PhD in Biochem= istry from the University of Edinburgh. He became a freelance writer who ha=
s written widely on history and science for the likes of the BBC, All About=
History, and the Guardian newspaper.

Henry VIII's Children
Caroline Angus
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399095860, $42.95, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Henry-VIIIs-Children-Legitimate-Illegitimate/dp/1399= 095862

Synopsis: Of the five Tudor monarchs, only one was ever born to rule. While=
much of King Henry VIII's reign is centered on his reckless marriage choic= es, it was the foundations laid by Henry and Queen Katherine of Aragon that=
shaped the future of the crown. Among the suffering of five lost heirs, th=
e royal couple placed all their hopes in the surviving Princess Mary. Her e= arly life weaves a tale of promise, diplomacy, and pageantry never to be se=
en again in King Henry's life, but a deep-rooted desire for a son, a legacy=
of his own scattered childhood, pushed Henry VIII to smother Mary's chance=
to rule.

An affair soon produced an unlikely heir in Henry Fitzroy, and while one ch= ild was pure royalty, the other illegitimate, the comparison of their child= hoods would show a race to throne closer than many wished to admit.

King Henry's cruelty saw his heirs' fates pivot as wives came and went, and=
the birth Princess Elizabeth, saw long-term plans upended for short-term d= esires.

With the death of one heir hidden from view, the birth of Prince Edward fin= ally gave the realm an heir born to rule, but King Henry's personal desires=
and paranoia left his heirs facing constant uncertainty for another decade=
until his death.

Behind the narrative of Henry VIII's wives, wars, reformation and ruthlessn= ess, these were children, living lives of education among people who cared = for them, surrounded by items in generous locations which symbolized their = place in their father's heart. They faced excitement, struggles, and isolat= ion which would shape their own reigns as adults.

From the heights of a surviving princess destined and decreed to influence = Europe, to illegitimate children scattered to the winds of fortune, the chi= ldhoods of Henry VIII's heirs is one of ambition, destiny, heartache, and t= riumph.

Critique: An original and seminal study of an often overlooked aspect of th=
e life and rule of King Henry VIII of England, "Henry VIII's Children: Legi= timate and Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Tudor King" is a fascinat= ing work of meticulous and exhaustive research the includes a six page Bibl= iography, illustrations, eighteen pages of Endnotes, and an eight page Inde=
x. "Henry VIII' Children" by historian and author Caroline Angus is a welco=
me and highly commended pick for personal, community, and academic library = Royal English Biography and British Royal History collections and supplemen= tal curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Caroline Angus (https://carolineangus.com) is a New Zealand= -based author. Caroline studied history at Universitat de Valencia, Spain, = spending ten years dedicated to the Spanish Civil War and the resulting dic= tatorship. Caroline went on to study with King's College London, specializi=
ng in Shakespeare and British royal history.

Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic
Natale Barca
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636242323, $39.95, HC, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Before-Augustus-Collapse-Roman-Republic/dp/163624232=
4

Synopsis: The political process that culminated in the transition from Repu= blic to Empire in ancient Rome began with the military reform of Caius Mari=
us in the last decades of the 2nd century BC. Following the Civil War and S= ulla's dictatorship, it developed further with the First Triumvirate of Cae= sar, Pompey, and Crassus, and two further civil wars. These wars, which saw=
Caesar pitted against Pompey, and Octavian fighting Anthony, ended in 27 B=
C with the rise to power of Octavian, the adoptive son of Caesar.

With the publication of "Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republi= c", academician and historian Natale Barca outlines a summary of the last y= ears of the Roman Republic, weaving together the military, political, and s= ocial aspects. A scholar and expert on Ancient Rome, Barca sets the protago= nists within the complex societal and political system that they operated, = analyzing their actions, and the epic battles that ensued.

Critique: "Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic" is a semina=
l study drawing upon both ancient sources and on contemporary literature. I=
t is an impressively presented, extraordinarily informative, and exceptiona= lly detailed and documented account of the tempestuous last century of the = Roman Republic before it became fully transformed into the Roman Empire. Fe= aturing a Glossary, a List of Abbreviations, an Epilogue (Octavian Becomes = Princeps, the Augustus), a four page Further Reading bibliography, and a si=
x page Index, "Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic" is stro= ngly recommended for community and academic library Ancient Roman History c= ollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted fo=
r the personal reading lists of students, academia, historians, and non-spe= cialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Before August= us: The Collapse of the Roman Republic" is also available in a digital book=
format (Kindle, $17.49).

Editorial Note: Natale Barca (https://www.natalebarca.it/Author) was a visi= ting scholar researcher at University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA, and=
an academic visitor at the University of London's Institute of Classical S= tudies. He is also a member of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studi=
es (Roman Society), London and the author of thirteen monographs, many of w= hich are focused on the political and military history of the Roman Late Re= public.

Nanjing: The Story of a Chinese City
Zhaoyan Ye
China Books & Periodicals, Inc.
360 Swift Avenue, Suite #48, South San Francisco, CA 94080
www.chinabooks.com
9781592652532, $24.95, PB, 588pp

https://www.amazon.com/Nanjing-Story-Chinese-Zhaoyan-Ye/dp/1592652530

Synopsis: Nanjing (also known as Nanking) is a quintessential Chinese city = with a history reaching back thousands of years. It has served as the capit=
al of Chinese regimes and dynasties, and witnessed the grand spectacle of h= istory, triumph, and tragedy, which altogether paint a brilliant picture of=
Chinese civilization.

"Nanjing: The Story of a Chinese City" is an accessible and readable histor=
y in which author and historian Ye Zhaoyan provides a unique perspective of=
Nanjing. It is a comprehensive and detailed story of a Chinese city -- as = well as the story of China, which has undergone a constant cycle of rise, d= ecline, and rebirth.

Ye provides an intimate and revealing look into the ancient origins of Nanj= ing, including its role as the strategic capital of the Kingdom of Wu in 22=
1 CE to the liberation of New China in 1949, after a century of conflict. W= ith great patience and a grand vision, Ye's portrait of Nanjing is not only=
a place frozen in time, but also a place to gain a solid framework on the = Chinese experience writ large.

Critique: An exceptionally impressive work of meticulous and informative sc= holarship, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentatio=
n, "Nanjing: The Story of a Chinese City" must be considered essential read= ing for students of Chinese history. This English language edition form Chi=
na Books & Periodicals" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addit= ion to personal, professional, community, college, and university library c= ollections and supplemental Chinese History curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Ye Zhaoyan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Zhaoyan) is a = prolific, award-winning Chinese author who has produced hundreds of short s= tories and novels since 1980. He obtained his MA from the Department of Chi= nese Language, Nanking University in 1986. He is now a member of the China = Writers' Association and a vice-president of Jiangsu Writers' Association.

Ancient Egypt and the African Roots of Civilization
Ramona Louise Wheeler
Independently Published
2370011627359, $TBA, PB, 318pp

Synopsis: "Ancient Egypt and the African Roots of Civilization" by Egyptolo= gist, illustrator, and author Ramona Louise Wheeler offers a new, seminal, = iconoclastic, and ground-breaking study on the religion and Gods of Ancient=
Egypt beginning with a two page commentary (The Creation of Humanity), a f= our page Preface (Egyptologists), twelve chapters on subjects ranging from = The Nature of the Gods, to Maps of the Mapmaker, to Waking the Dead, to Civ= ilization: Amun & Company, to the Sky Gods, and more.

Of special note is a listing of Museum Sources, Abbreviations, a Timeline o=
f Ancient Egypt, and the inclusion of more than 300 full color illustration=
s. The fifty-eight page section, 'Translations by the Author', features Rom= ana Wheeler's translations from Egyptian hieroglyph poems, incantations and=
spells into English. Her brief commentary on the inevitable limitations of=
translating hieroglyphs is particularly insightful.

Critique: Extraordinarily informative, exceptionally well organized, partic= ularly effective in presentation, and offering a challenging new perspectiv=
e concerning the beliefs, philosophy, and mysticism of an ancient Egypt tha=
t would become the foundation of a unique and enduring form of civilization=
(and one that continues to be of immense interest around that world today = with numerous archaeological digs and academic studies) "Ancient Egypt and = the African Roots of Civilization" by Egyptologist Ramona Louise Wheeler is=
an especially and unreservedly impressive work of meticulous scholarship a=
nd original research.

Substantial and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentati=
on "Ancient Egypt and the African Roots of Civilization" an ideal resource = for students, academia, practicing Egyptologists, and non-specialist genera=
l readers with an interest in the subject.

Simply stated, "Ancient Egypt and the African Roots of Civilization" is a w= elcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, com= munity, college, and university library Egyptology collections and suppleme= ntal Egyptology curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Romona Louise Wheeler is also the author of "Walk Like An E= gyptian: A Modern Guide to the Religion and Philosophy of Ancient Egypt" (W= ildside Press, 2004).

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: ---:- FTN<->UseNet Gate -:--- (3:633/280.2@fidonet)