As Featured In

HiMA, Revue Internationale d'Histoire Militaire Ancienne, n°10-2021

The Roman Republic lasted from 510 BC until 49 BC when Caesar crossed the Rubicon into Italy in defiance of everybody and marched on Rome. Chrystal's book looks at social and political issues describes all of the protagonists, their military and political skills, the battles they fought and lost as well as the consequences of their actions. It is more than a chronology or a list of battles but is as complete a picture of Roman society as ever presented. there was no lack of leadership during this time - perhaps there were too many capable leaders. All were intelligent charismatic, courageous and ambitious and apt to fight and destroy one another. This includes women and the roles they played in society in a thorough discussion.
This is a very readable narrative complimented with extensive notes, a good index, great maps and an adequate bibliography. Recommended for those with an interest in this period.

The Past In Review, David Lee Poremba

Acknowledged in author article 'Rome's Civil War' as featured by

All About History, issue 82

Featured as competition prize

24seven Lifestyle Magazine, August 2019

A praise also to the choice of iconographic sources that I particularly appreciated. A book of great value.

Read the full Italian review here

Old Barbed Wire Blog

Rome: Republic into Empire offers readers a readable narrative, informative notes, a good index, maps and bibliography. The illustrations, chosen from the art of several centuries, are of absorbing interest. I liked a fifteenth century illustration of Julius Caesar's murder, showing Caesar as a medieval Holy Roman Emperor wearing a crown and purple robe, while Brutus and Cassius are stiletto-wielding fifteenth-century dandies in brightly-coloured jerkins and tights. I could go on praising this book, but I shall stop here: buy it and enjoy it for yourself.

Read the full review here

Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)

As featured 'ON THE BOOK SHELF'

Wargames Illustrated, January 2019

As featured by

The Bookseller 5/10/18

A good narrative account of the period that saw the transformation of Rome from democratic republic to Empire. It demonstrates how ‘democracy’ was a thin disguise for the greed and ambition of the few for which the many paid with lives and destitution and that the advent of ‘Empire’ was a formalisation of the same but with the winners clearly identified. It echoes with modern parallels; the redistribution of land to war veterans in Zimbabwe and other places in Africa; the consolidation of power amongst the few, the adjustment of political convention to gain advantage and perhaps most of all a need to revalue the ubiquitous use of the word ‘uncertainty’ in modern politics.
These were truly uncertain times. Lives blighted by civil wars and the problems of those wars bringing destitution to the rural poor. The consequences of choosing the wrong/losing side and perhaps not having the benefit of a choice. The close web of political marriages that could in an instant see family members proscribed and even more ardent opponents created from the outcome.
The only criticism is that the narrative would have benefited from better maps, particularly as the reader often needs to look up the modern equivalent of the names of cities and regions.
Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide

Michael McCarthy