Julian the Apostate

This portrayal of one of antiquitys most enigmatic figures offers a vivid and compact assessment of the Apostates life and reign. Proceeding directly from an evaluation of the ancient sourcesthe testimony of friends and enemies of Julian as well as the writings of the emperor himselfthe author traces Julians youth, his years as the commander of the Roman forces in Gaul, and his emergence as sole ruler in the course of a dramatic march to Constantinople. In G. W. Bowersocks analysis of Julians religious revolution, the emperors ardent espousal of a lost cause is seen to have made intolerable demands upon pagans, Jews, and Christians alike.