Julius Caesar (Annotated with Biography and Critical Essay‪)‬

The setting of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is ancient Rome in the year 44 B.C. and opens with the Feast of Lupercalia, which was held in mid-February.  Caesar has become the most powerful man in Rome.  As he and his entourage celebrate the Feast, a soothsayer tells him that he should “beware the Ides of March”.  The Ides of March fall on March 15th in the old Roman calendar.  Caesar brushes off the soothsayer’s warning.

Unbeknownst to Caesar, a conspiracy is being hatched.  It is lead by Cassius, the brother-in-law of Marcus Brutus.  Brutus is a good friend of Caesar’s, who has no reason to distrust him.  Cassius is concerned that Caesar is becoming too powerful and that for the good of Rome, he must be murdered.

This annotated edition includes a biography and critical essay.