BALSDON, J. P. V. D., — The Emperor Gaius (Caligula).

Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1966. Reprint 1st ed.1934. XIX,243p. Folding chart. Original blue cloth with dust wrappers. Spine gilt titled. Upper and fore edge with a few vague rust stains. ‘Gaius, to say the least of it, was not skilful. The question which Mr. Balsdon has to answer, and which it is to be feared he does not answer satisfactorily, is whether he was as mad as his enemies said. Many of their tales were proved slanders; but even when all these are pruned away there still remains a residue of fact, smaller than is ordinarily supposed, yet formidable. Tacitus’ phrase ‘commits ingenious’ may not be so wide of the mark after all. Mr. Balsdon gives one the impression of not having himself made up his mind, with the result that although he clears away the rubbish, he does not bring out fully what lies under it. His book will be of great us to future students as a very complete and trustworthy guide to the materials for an estimate of Gaius; and it will serve to correct the traditional account which is still far too often repeated in even first-class books. But we have to wait longer for a final estimate of the character of Gaius and his real place in history.’ (MICHAEL TIERNEY in: An Irish Quarterly Review, 1934, pp.708-709).