July 2023 MBR The World History Shelf

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/1399097369

Synopsis: In 48 BC the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great fought a decisive battle at Pharsalus in Greece. Pompey was comprehensively defeated and fled to the last power in the Mediterranean world that was independent of Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt. Caesar pursued Pompey and was presented with his 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 gleefully into the world of Egyptian palace politics, riven by dynastic dispute. He quickly sided with the beguiling Queen Cleopatra (after her famous carpet trick), despite having little more than a bodyguard with him. Most of his army was still in Greece, leaving him massively outnumbered by the Egyptian forces. The Romans were besieged in Alexandria for seven months before reinforcements could get through to them.

"Julius Caesar in Egypt: Cleopatra and the War in Alexandria" is a true story of double-cross, assassination and intrigue accompanied by lively battles, daring escapes, disastrous fires (the Great Library of Alexandria was largely 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 shaped these world-changing events.

Critique: A solid work of impressively meticulous and exceptionally informative 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 Matyszak is an extraordinary and invaluable contribution to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Roman & Egyptian History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Julius Caesar in Egypt: Cleopatra and the War in Alexandria" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Philip 'Maty' Matyszak (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Matyszak) holds a doctorate in Ancient History from St John's College, Oxford University, and has been studying, teaching and writing on the subject for over twenty years. He specializes in the history of Classical Greece and of the Late Republic and Early Imperial periods of Rome. Maty has personal military experience both as a conscript in Rhodesia and with the Territorial Army in Britain. Currently, he splits his time between writing in his home in Canada's Monashee Mountains and providing e-learning courses for Cambridge 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 who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. In ancient 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 about how Western thought developed. Despite attempts to erase him, the lessons 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 brilliant 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 traces how his teachings have influenced thinkers across time.

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

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

Editorial Note: Ben Gazur (https://www.bengazur.com) holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh. He became a freelance writer who has 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/1399095862

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 choices, 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, the royal couple placed all their hopes in the surviving Princess Mary. Her early life weaves a tale of promise, diplomacy, and pageantry never to be seen 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 child was pure royalty, the other illegitimate, the comparison of their childhoods 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 desires.

With the death of one heir hidden from view, the birth of Prince Edward finally 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 ruthlessness, 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 isolation 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 childhoods of Henry VIII's heirs is one of ambition, destiny, heartache, and triumph.

Critique: An original and seminal study of an often overlooked aspect of the life and rule of King Henry VIII of England, "Henry VIII's Children: Legitimate and Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Tudor King" is a fascinating work of meticulous and exhaustive research the includes a six page Bibliography, illustrations, eighteen pages of Endnotes, and an eight page Index. "Henry VIII' Children" by historian and author Caroline Angus is a welcome and highly commended pick for personal, community, and academic library Royal English Biography and British Royal History collections and supplemental 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 dictatorship. Caroline went on to study with King's College London, specializing 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/1636242324

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

With the publication of "Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic", academician and historian Natale Barca outlines a summary of the last years of the Roman Republic, weaving together the military, political, and social aspects. A scholar and expert on Ancient Rome, Barca sets the protagonists 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 seminal study drawing upon both ancient sources and on contemporary literature. It is an impressively presented, extraordinarily informative, and exceptionally detailed and documented account of the tempestuous last century of the Roman Republic before it became fully transformed into the Roman Empire. Featuring a Glossary, a List of Abbreviations, an Epilogue (Octavian Becomes Princeps, the Augustus), a four page Further Reading bibliography, and a six page Index, "Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic" is strongly recommended for community and academic library Ancient Roman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Before Augustus: 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 visiting scholar researcher at University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA, and an academic visitor at the University of London's Institute of Classical Studies. He is also a member of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies (Roman Society), London and the author of thirteen monographs, many of which are focused on the political and military history of the Roman Late Republic.

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 capital of Chinese regimes and dynasties, and witnessed the grand spectacle of history, triumph, and tragedy, which altogether paint a brilliant picture of Chinese civilization.

"Nanjing: The Story of a Chinese City" is an accessible and readable history 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, decline, and rebirth.

Ye provides an intimate and revealing look into the ancient origins of Nanjing, including its role as the strategic capital of the Kingdom of Wu in 221 CE to the liberation of New China in 1949, after a century of conflict. With 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 scholarship, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Nanjing: The Story of a Chinese City" must be considered essential reading for students of Chinese history. This English language edition form China Books & Periodicals" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections 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 stories and novels since 1980. He obtained his MA from the Department of Chinese 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 Egyptologist, 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 four page Preface (Egyptologists), twelve chapters on subjects ranging from The Nature of the Gods, to Maps of the Mapmaker, to Waking the Dead, to Civilization: Amun & Company, to the Sky Gods, and more.

Of special note is a listing of Museum Sources, Abbreviations, a Timeline of Ancient Egypt, and the inclusion of more than 300 full color illustrations. The fifty-eight page section, 'Translations by the Author', features Romana 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, particularly effective in presentation, and offering a challenging new perspective concerning the beliefs, philosophy, and mysticism of an ancient Egypt that 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 and original research.

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

Simply stated, "Ancient Egypt and the African Roots of Civilization" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Egyptology collections and supplemental Egyptology curriculum studies lists.

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

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