The Mantle of Cæsar was written by Friedrich Gundolf, a German historian. It was translated into English by Jacob Wittmer Hartmann in 1928. This is the first republication of the book in many decades. His work was banned in Germany under the Nazi regime.
This book is a history of the idea of Cæsar as it has been transmitted over the generations. It is a rich and well written book that offers the Reader an introduction to a powerful idea, and many forgotten or overlooked thinkers. It begins with the Emperors that followed Julius Cæsar, and the ways they upheld his example. Then it discusses the many kings and emperors who took the image and used it for their own purposes; figures like Charlemagne and Frederick Barbarossa. Then it moves into the way Renaissance thinkers and monarchs, like Henri IV or Charles V, adopted the Cæsar-story in light of the recovery of the Classical World. The ensuing Baroque, Rococo, and Enlightenment period is discussed as well, but with more emphasis on the many plays written about the Roman period. It concludes, as it must, in the shadow of Napoleon.
This is a new edition of the public domain book originally published in 1927.
This new edition includes:
a new Foreword written by the Publisher.
Many new footnotes added by the Publisher.
New layout, formatting, and typesetting.
A gathering of many artworks of Cæsar and his many portrayals.
Several appendices with writings on Cæsar, authored by Julian the Apostate, Francis Bacon, Michel de Montaigne, Charles Montesquieu, and Friedrich Schlegel.
Bulkington Book's mission is to build a bridge into the past, before film, television, copyright, and internet swallowed up the world. We found this story worthy of revival, and we hope you find it worth your while.
Available here: https://amzn.to/4513b2f
Our Substack Post, including the Foreword, can be read here: https://bulkingtonbooks.substack.com/p/foreword-to-the-mantle-of-csar
the original text can be found here on googlebooks: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Mantle_of_Caesar/rx3TAAAAMAAJ
