11 APRIL 1941, Page 22

No Other Caesar. By Felix Grendon.. (Lane. ros.6d.) IT is

a pity that Mr. Grendon has tried to make his new life of

Julius Caesar more generally acceptable by using the terms of modern politics to describe the party struggles of ancient Rome. The ,author should know that it is absurd to describe Caesar as a " Populist " leader, and the "Conservatism" of his adver- saries was by no means what we mean by the appellation here and now. Mr. Grendon is also apt to introduce imaginary con- versations and to accept legendary anecdotes, instead of letting the facts speak for themselves. More than once, too, he refers the reader for details of the campaigns to Mornmsen and other authorities. As Mr. Grendon nas evidently taken pains to read the familiar sources for a great theme, -it is unfortunate that his industry has been largely wasted by his mistaken methods. NO book on Caesar could fail entirely to be readable, but this biography will not oust any of its numerous competitors.