The Gates of Rome
The Gates Of Rome is the first book in the Emperor series, written by author Conn Iggulden. The series is historical fiction following the life of Julius Caesar.
The first book in the series introduces two young Romans: Gaius (Gaius Julius Caesar), son of a senator and born of nobel-blood, and blood-friend Marcus (Marcus Brutus), son of a high-class prostitute (Servilia Caepionis).
It tells of the harsh realities of life in the Ancient Rome, not only for the nobilitas but also for the slave population, who revolt and kill Gaius' father during a siege on their villa.
As the two boys begin their careers (Gaius as a senator and Marcus as Legionnaire), a political war is being played out in the senate, between two powerful Generals: Cornelius Sulla and Gaius' uncle Gaius Marius.
At times, Iggulden drifts away from historical accuracy for the purposes of storytelling, although he does explain his reason in an Historical Note at the end of the book.
The tagline on the front of the paperback version of Gates of Rome read:
"If you liked Gladiator you'll love Emperor" - Sunday Times
This loose association with the hugely popular Gladiator film, along with excellent reviews, helped Gates of Rome reach number two in the Sunday Times Best-seller list.