Julius Caesar’s own narrative of the opening year of the Civil War between himself and Pompey is the only surviving account from the classical world of such a conflict written by one of the principals. The apparent clarity of the narrative, and the limpidity and economy of Caesar’s style, in fact conceal a tendentious presentation of both his own and his opponent’s motives, actions and competence. The influence of dramatic structures on the selection and combination of events related by Caesar is also important. The commentary therefore aims to elucidate not only matters directly referred to in the text, but the whole context of their presentation.