The October Horse (novel)
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 First edition cover |
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| Author | Colleen McCullough |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Series | Masters of Rome series |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Century |
| Released | 7 November 2002 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 608 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-7126-8056-X (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | Caesar |
The October Horse is the sixth novel in Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
The October Horse begins with Gaius Julius Caesar's Egyptian campaign in Alexandria, his final battles with the Republicans led by Metellus Scipio, Cato the Younger, Titus Labienus and the Brothers Pompeius in Africa and Spain, and ultimately Caesar's assassination on the Ides Of March by Marcus Brutus, Gaius Cassius and the Liberators. The latter stages of The October Horse chronicles the death of Cicero, the emergence of Octavian and his battles with Mark Anthony then concluding with the Battle of Phillipi.
[edit] Explanation of the novel's title
The title of the book, The October Horse comes from the chariot race in Rome on the Ides Of October, where the right-hand horse of the winning team was sacrificed to the Roman gods, before two teams, one each from The Subura and The Via Sacra competed for the Horse's head. Julius Caesar, literally the best war horse in rome, represents The October Horse in this novel.
[edit] Characters in "The October Horse"
[edit] Notable historical figures
- Gaius Julius Caesar,
- Cleopatra,
- Mark Anthony,
- Marcus Tullius Cicero,
- Gaius Octavius. Later Augustus,
- Marcus Aemilius Lepidus,
- Marcus Junius Brutus,
- Gaius Cassius Longinus,
- Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger,
- Caesarion, son of Julius Caesar,
- Servilia Caepionis, mistress of Caesar,
- Publius Cornelius Dollabella,
- Titus Labienus,
- Porcia Catonis, wife of Marcus Brutus
- Pharnaces II,
- Lucius Julius Caesar.
- Atia, mother of Octavius
- Lucius Marcius Philippus, stepfather of Octavius
- Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus
[edit] Release details
- 2002, UK, Century Press (ISBN 0-7126-8056-X), Pub date 7 November 2002, hardback (First edition)
- 2003, UK, Arrow Books (ISBN 0-09-946132-3), Pub date ? ? 2003, paperback
- 2003, USA, Pocket Books (ISBN 0-671-02420-5), Pub date ? November 2003, paperback
- 2003, UK, Arrow Books (ISBN 0-09-928052-3), Pub date 7 August 2003, paperback
