Augustus Audiobook By John Williams cover art

Augustus

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Augustus

By: John Williams
Narrated by: Robin Field
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A brilliant and beautifully written novel in the tradition of Robert Graves’ I, Claudius, Augustus is a sweeping narrative that brings vividly to life a compelling cast of historical figures through their letters, dispatches, and memoirs.

A mere 18 years of age when his uncle, Julius Caesar, is murdered, Octavius Caesar prematurely inherits rule of the Roman Republic. Surrounded by men who are jockeying for power—Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Mark Antony—young Octavius must work against the powerful Roman political machinations to claim his destiny as first Roman emperor.

Sprung from meticulous research and the pen of a true poet, Augustus tells the story of one man’s dream to liberate a corrupt Rome from the fancy of the capriciously crooked and the wildly wealthy.

©1972 John Williams; 1995 by Nancy Williams (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Tearjerking Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

“ Augustus is a masterpiece.” ( Los Angeles Times)
Magnificent Historical Fiction • Engaging Epistolary Format • Distinct Character Voices • Rich Historical Detail
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This was my first read of 2025 and it’s setting a high bar for the rest of the year. Williams’ prose is superb as always, but I found Augustus even more interesting, insightful, and engrossing than Stoner. It felt so real, or at least plausible, as if I was reading translations of actual extant texts. 10/10 recommend to anyone remotely interested!

Also, don’t give up if you have to pause and google some names to understand who’s who at the beginning. Williams is so adept at building the relationships and nuanced dynamics that it becomes easier to follow fairly quickly.

Even better than Stoner

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is one of the best Historical fiction I have ever read

What did you like best about this story?

Great writing, and its organization as a set of letters is brilliant.

What about Robin Field’s performance did you like?

He is trying to change his diction for the various narrators.And it sounds terrible, particularly when narrating women.
YOu should get a different narror for this wonderful book.

Excellent book, weak reading

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This biography is a compilation of contemporary epistles from Augustus, his friend, family and enemies over the span of his life. The reader is allowed, without the bias of the author, to stitch together his opinion of Augustus. The insights provided by these correspondences, often intimate, at times touching, gives the reader a complex view of a complex, private and exceptional historic figure. Well narrated.

lncredible biography

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this was a tragedy with out equal not kaid out through folly but gently with and by the success and accident of the life of the main character.

what a sad story

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The narrator does a superb job with all characters. The story is fascinating in its depth and detail. I may listen to this again as it took me a while to keep the players straight because of the Latin names. Lots of truths in here that certainly are applicable today.

A moving history

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What did you love best about Augustus?

The book is presented as a series of letters by people who know or knew Augustus constantly providing different perspectives and thoughts about a larger than life figure sometimes with the perspective of the times of the events sometimes years afterwards. It made for an interesting format. The book seemed packed with realistic details.

What other book might you compare Augustus to and why?

I cannot remember another historical fiction book with the constantly changing narrative device of Augustus.

Have you listened to any of Robin Field’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but the narrator gave an impressive easy to follow performance. I was almost put off this recording by a negative review which I'm glad I ignored.

Any additional comments?

A very interesting read to introduce me to the character of Augustus Caesar. The book neither dwells long on gossip nor goes deep into battle tactics or economic theories. A good balance for me. I found he pace of the book good until the final soliloquy at the end which dragged a bit. I definitely recommend the book.

An interesting introduction to Roman history

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I’m a huge fan of an epistolary style of story telling. Williams’s narration was first rate. If you love Roman history, you’ll enjoy this audio book.

Wonderful retelling of Augustus Caesar’s life

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This is beautifully written and narrated. Friends, advisors, daughter, enemies buld up layers of history and character as you wonder what Augustus himself thinks. Highly recommended.

Wonderful multi-narrator technique

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I really enjoyed this book & the format of telling it through letters & different POVs. There is political intrigue, military battles & lots of back stabbing & pompous behavior. It felt more like an ancient serial drama rather than "history". Robin Field's narration is wonderful.

Tragic Tale

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the narrator sounds like Richard Simmons. Just not the right voice for this particular book IMO.

terrible narrator

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