Review of "Julius Caesar: A Shakespeare Story," by Andrew Matthews and Tony Ross

Review of

Julius Caesar: A Shakespeare Story, by Andrew Matthews and Tony Ross ISBN 9781626866966


Five out of five stars

 While this is not the full rendition of the classic Shakespearean play, it does present what is the fundamentals of the events depicted in that work. It also provides a bit of the history of what became the Roman Empire. The men that killed Julius Caesar believed that they were saving their republican form of government, yet their act led to the establishment of the rule of an Emperor that lasted for centuries.

 The level of the language used is fitting for the middle school reader, the book could serve as a solid, effective primer on the play, although it is arguably not a complete substitute. With some proper direction, the typical middle school student is capable of understanding the full play. Following the principle of “education by all means available,” this book is a worthy addition to the tactics used to introduce the classics of literature to the next generation.