Robert Harris: Dictator
Part 3 of Robert Harris' trilogy on the life of Roman statesman Cicero. It follows Imperium and Conspirata. Once more an awesome read. Definitely if one has studied Latin for five years and is into nerdy ancient Rome staff, but also for everybody else...
The novel starts off with Cicero in exile, with his old enemy Clodius having been elected tribune with the help of Julius Caesar. We then see, among others, Cicero return to Rome, his alignment with Pompeius in the civil war against Caesar, Caesar's reign as dictator and assassination, and Cicero's increasing opposition against Marc Anthony and support for Caesar's adopted son, Octavian. Ultimately, Cicero is being killed after Marc Anthony and Octavian (temporarily) settle their differences. At Marc Anthony's bequest, Cicero's hands and head were displayed on the rostra (the platform for public speeches) on the forum romanum.
The book is every bit as thrilling as its predecessors. It offers great insights into the end of the Roman Republic. What is especially interesting is to follow the increasingly violent politics and populism of the late republic, all against the background of still existing republican political institutions. In that regard, ancient Rome may offer interesting insights to better understand nowadays contested/ semi-democratic regimes, such as Iraq or Afghanistan. The character of Cicero os also nicely captured as a classic politician thrust into increasingly militarized power politics. Finally, the book offers some nice insights on Cicero's philosophical work during his late years. I am not too familiar with his philosophy, but the way Harris describes it, it seems it had a lot of stoic elements.
Overall, another magnificent read and a great piece of historical fiction. Harris likened it to a "West-Wing-on-the-Tiber", the perfect description... Perhaps not entirely en par with Robert Graves' I Claudius, but the target audience is also a bit different. Robert Harris has constantly managed to convince over the last decade, be it An Officer and a Spy or Pompeii.
Random movie association:
Frank Drebin and the Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar...
Favorite quote:
"A room without books is like a body without a soul."
Part 3 of Robert Harris' trilogy on the life of Roman statesman Cicero. It follows Imperium and Conspirata. Once more an awesome read. Definitely if one has studied Latin for five years and is into nerdy ancient Rome staff, but also for everybody else...
The novel starts off with Cicero in exile, with his old enemy Clodius having been elected tribune with the help of Julius Caesar. We then see, among others, Cicero return to Rome, his alignment with Pompeius in the civil war against Caesar, Caesar's reign as dictator and assassination, and Cicero's increasing opposition against Marc Anthony and support for Caesar's adopted son, Octavian. Ultimately, Cicero is being killed after Marc Anthony and Octavian (temporarily) settle their differences. At Marc Anthony's bequest, Cicero's hands and head were displayed on the rostra (the platform for public speeches) on the forum romanum.
The book is every bit as thrilling as its predecessors. It offers great insights into the end of the Roman Republic. What is especially interesting is to follow the increasingly violent politics and populism of the late republic, all against the background of still existing republican political institutions. In that regard, ancient Rome may offer interesting insights to better understand nowadays contested/ semi-democratic regimes, such as Iraq or Afghanistan. The character of Cicero os also nicely captured as a classic politician thrust into increasingly militarized power politics. Finally, the book offers some nice insights on Cicero's philosophical work during his late years. I am not too familiar with his philosophy, but the way Harris describes it, it seems it had a lot of stoic elements.
Overall, another magnificent read and a great piece of historical fiction. Harris likened it to a "West-Wing-on-the-Tiber", the perfect description... Perhaps not entirely en par with Robert Graves' I Claudius, but the target audience is also a bit different. Robert Harris has constantly managed to convince over the last decade, be it An Officer and a Spy or Pompeii.
Random movie association:
Frank Drebin and the Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar...
Favorite quote:
"A room without books is like a body without a soul."
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