a marvellously epic sweeping historical novel full of political intrigue, romance, drama and war

The October Horse

Spanning sixty years of Roman history, Masters of Rome is Colleen McCullough's brilliant reimagining of the tumultuous years that led to the rise of Julius Caeser, his time in power and his ultimate demise.

Rome, 48BC. Scene of one of the greatest political battles - and one of the most passionate love affairs - of all time.

Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough transport you back in time to Rome to 48 BC: scene of one of the greatest political battles and one of the most passionate love affairs of all time. This is an evocative and enthralling historical novel that will have you gripped. Fans of Conn Iggulden, Madeleine Miller and Simon Scarrow will not be disappointed. 
 
'An enormous rich mountain of a book, which will appeal to people who like their history in great succulent dollops' -- Sunday Times 
'Incomparable... Engrossing... Breathtakingly detailed... McCullough has triumphed again' -- Chicago Tribune 
'Intrigue, political manoeuvring, grandstanding, gossip, sex, both affectionate and calculated, and wholesale slaughter... McCullough works to charge history with the current of personality.' -- Booklist 
'A really engrossing read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A masterpiece' -- ***** Reader review 
'In a peerless class of its own' -- ***** Reader review 
'Entertaining and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************** 
Rome, 48 BC: Julius Caesar is in the prime of his life and at the height of his powers. 
 
But behind the myth lies a man beset with contradictions - happily married, he is also the lover of the enigmatic Egyptian queen, Cleopatra; a great general, he wishes to bring to an end Rome's endless wars; conscious of his own power and contemptuous of lesser men, he is determined not to be worshipped as a living god or crowned emperor. 
But Caesar is a man whose very greatness attracts envy and jealousy to a dangerous degree, and as the political intrigues which surround him reach their climax, his destruction becomes inevitable... 
 
The October Horse is the sixth book in the Masters of Rome series.

McCullough's expert command of the historical facts from a broad range of ancient and contemporary sources makes this the kind of novel that tests and expands even an expert's knowledge of Roman history

This is a marvellous, sweeping story with all the familiar characters - Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Brutus et al - which brings the periods vividly alive, and retells a vital period in world history in a splendidly accessible way

[A] swiftly moving story ... packed full of political intrigue, romance, drama, and war

Colleen McCullough was born in Australia. A neurophysiologist, she established the department of neurophysiology at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, then worked as a researcher and teacher at Yale Medical School for ten years. 
 
Her writing career began with the publication of Tim, followed by The Thorn Birds, a record-breaking international bestseller. The author of over ten other novels, including the acclaimed 'Masters of Rome' series, Dr McCullough also wrote lyrics for musical theatre. 
 
Until her death in 2015 she lived on Norfolk Island in the Pacific with her husband.

Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough transport you back in time to Rome to 48 BC: scene of one of the greatest political battles and one of the most passionate love affairs of all time. This is an evocative and enthralling historical novel that will have you gripped. Fans of Conn Iggulden, Madeleine Miller and Simon Scarrow will not be disappointed. 
 
'An enormous rich mountain of a book, which will appeal to people who like their history in great succulent dollops' -- Sunday Times 
'Incomparable... Engrossing... Breathtakingly detailed... McCullough has triumphed again' -- Chicago Tribune 
'Intrigue, political manoeuvring, grandstanding, gossip, sex, both affectionate and calculated, and wholesale slaughter... McCullough works to charge history with the current of personality.' -- Booklist 
'A really engrossing read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A masterpiece' -- ***** Reader review 
'In a peerless class of its own' -- ***** Reader review 
'Entertaining and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************** 
Rome, 48 BC: Julius Caesar is in the prime of his life and at the height of his powers. 
 
But behind the myth lies a man beset with contradictions - happily married, he is also the lover of the enigmatic Egyptian queen, Cleopatra; a great general, he wishes to bring to an end Rome's endless wars; conscious of his own power and contemptuous of lesser men, he is determined not to be worshipped as a living god or crowned emperor. 
But Caesar is a man whose very greatness attracts envy and jealousy to a dangerous degree, and as the political intrigues which surround him reach their climax, his destruction becomes inevitable... 
 
The October Horse is the sixth book in the Masters of Rome series.

Caesar's Women

PART OF THE ACCLAIMED MASTERS OF ROME SERIES

It is a powerful story, and McCullough tells it with the verve of a novelist and the commitment of a historian

Book four in the epic Masters of Rome series. 
 
Rome. 68 BC. Julius Caesar has proved himself a brilliant general. But when he returns to Rome he lays down arms only to take up another battle: this time for political power. This is a war waged with words, plots, schemes, metaphotical assassinations - but also with seduction and guile. 
 
Love is just another weapon in Caesar's political arsenal, for the key to political glory lies with Rome's noblewomen: powerful, vindictive Servilia, whose son Brutus deeply resents his mother's passionate, destructive relationhshiop with Caesar; Rome's revered Vestal Virgins; and even Caesar's own daughter, sacrificed on the altar of his ambition.

Caesar

Incomparable . . . Engrossing . . . Breathtakingly detailed . . . McCullough has triumphed again

Hail, Colleen McCullough! She once again gives Caesar his due . . . Caesar reveals Julius Caesar and the author at the height of their powers . . . With all its Machiavellian machinations and its eye for entertaining history, McCullough latest novel merits the allegiance of her legions of fans

A thoroughly Romanized epic novel . . . Her version of history marches through the tumultuous years from 54 to 48 B.C. withoutmissing any of the significant military and political landscape . . . McCullough also fleshes out the marbled-over characters of Pompey, Cato, Cicero, Brutus, Mark Anthony and others as they try to deal with the near-infallible Caesar. And Caesar himself . . . [is] brilliant, ambitious, ruthless and fascinating

The fifth book in the epic Masters of Rome series. 
 
Gaul. 54 BC. Julius Caesar sweeps across Gaul, brutally subduing the united tribes who defy the Republic. But, at home, his enemies are orchestrating his downfall and disgrace. Vindictive schemers like Cato and Bibulus, the spineless Cicero, the avaricious Brutus. Even Pompey the Great, Caesar's former ally. 
 
But all have underestimated Caesar. And when the Senate refuse to give him his due he marches upon his own country, an army prepared to die for him at his back. For rome is his destiny - a destiny that will impel him triumphantly on to the banks of the Rubicon, and beyond, into legend, as the noblest Roman of them all.

First Man In Rome

The author's narrative flows as easily as Father tiber . . . A grandly meaty historical novel . . . rich with gracefully integrated research and thundering to the beat of marching roman legions

The first book in the epic Masters of Rome series. 
 
Rome. 110BC. A city which is home to Gaius Marius, prosperous but lowborn, a proud and disciplined soldier emboldened by his shrewdness and self-made wealth. It is also home to Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a handsome young aristocrat corrupted by powerty, a shameless pleasure seeker. 
 
Two men of extraordinary vision, men of ruthless ambition, both blessed and cursed by the special favour of Fortune. men fated to lay the foundations of the most awesome empire ever known, and to play out a mighty struggle for power and glory - for Marius and Sulla share a formidable ambition: to become First Man in Rome.

The Grass Crown

The second book in the epic Masters of Rome series. 
 
Rome. 97 BC. Gaius Marius is one of the greatest generals Rome has ever known. under him, Rome has conquered the Western world, withstood invasion and crushed its enemies. But when the ageing Marius grows weak, the stability of the mighty Republic looks uncertain. 
 
Ambitious, tormented Lucius Cornelius Sulla, once Marius's right hand man, withdraws from his commander's circle to prepare his own bid for power. Marius is determined not to relinquish his control over the Republic, but with his closest ally now his most dangerous rival, the stakes are higher than ever before. And as a deadly enmity develops between the two men, Rome must fight its own battle for survival.

Fortune's Favourites

McCullough spins a stupendous tale of murderous ambition, guile, assassination, tragedy, love and lust...a magnificent tour de force

The third novel in the epic Masters of Rome series. 
 
Fortune's Favourites witnesses the power, mastery and cunning of two enigmatic rulers of Rome - Sulla, returning from exile, and the 22-year-old Pompey, who designates himself Magnus 'the Great'. And in the background is the young soldier, Caesar, who begins to show the expert qualities that will one day culminate in him becoming an unparalleled leader of ancient Rome. And at the heart of this sumptuous tale is the unforgettable story of Spartacus and his doomed slave revolt - the true story, as no modern reader has ever before encountered it.

Colleen McCullough

a powerful, sweeping family saga from the international bestselling author of The Thorn Birds

Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough sweep you away with this enthralling, evocative and emotional saga of one woman's quest to come to terms with a new life. If you like Victoria Hislop, Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy, you'll love this! 
 
'Fast-moving and immensely readable... Back to the open spaces, merciless climate and sheer pioneering stance of the magical THE THORN BIRDS, this book is a page turner from start to finish' -- Maeve Binchy 
'A compelling, passionate and gritty saga that was well worth the wait' -- She 
'A powerful saga' -- Mirror 
'Absorbing' -- Sunday Telegraph 
'I could put this book down. I was consumed with it' -- ***** Reader review 
'This book is utterly compelling and quite simply, I loved it. I wanted to finish it, but, didn't want it to end. Beautifully written, descriptive passages. A truly Master author. Thank you' -- ***** Reader review 
'One of the best reads I've had in years' -- ***** Reader review 
'Thoroughly loved this book, I was hooked from the first page!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************** 
Alexander Kinross is remembered in his native Scotland only as a shiftless boilermaker's apprentice. But when he writes from Australia to summon his bride, his relatives realize he is now a man to be reckoned with. 
 
Arriving in Sydney after a difficult voyage, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Drummond meets her husband-to-be and discovers that he frightens and repels her. 
 
Isolated in Alexander's great house, Elizabeth finds that marriage does not prompt her husband to enlighten her about his past life - nor his present one, in which his mistress, the sensuous, tough, outspoken Ruby Costevan, still plays a part... 
 
Will she be able to forge a happy new life in this new world?

Colleen McCullough

Books by Colleen McCullough

Series by Colleen McCullough

Masters of Rome

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter