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 sources--the testimony of friends and enemies of Julian as well as the writings of the emperor himself--the 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 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.