Oxbow says: Why has the legacy of Caesar been so profound, far-reaching and enduring? What is it about his life and deeds that has drawn people to his legacy for hundreds of years? In this book Maria Wyke examines the 'reconstruction, value and use of Julius Caesar' throughout medieval and modern western culture and, in focusing on individual events in his life, looks at specific receptions, from medieval writers and artists, to Shakespeare, Handel, Napoleon and Mussolini, through to Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas. A life with few precedents or parallels, Caesar can be seen to form points of reference for a whole host of audiences: conquest and imperialism, dictatorship, tyranny, courage, glory and leadership, propaganda, fame, lust, cruelty, sex and intrigue, to name just a few. 'Witty, sharply insightful and sophisticated' - Simon Goldhill.