It is interesting to read old histories because it gives one a view of how people thought when the book was written. The author Jacob Abbott was a New England Congregationalist preacher and college professor in the early to mid 19th century. He was also a writer of children's books. I had wondered if this would be a compilation of facts and views from Shakespeare and Caesar's Commentaries, but there was definately more to it than that. He filled in holes left in the Commentaries and Shakespeare's play. It was a fairly short read. The author tried to be evenhanded, but I don't think he really liked Caesar all that much. For someone who wants some basic backgrond on Caesar this would be a good place to go, but you would certain be left wanting more.