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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was ok, but I always have trouble with Latin/Roman names.
In diesem absolut gelungenen Roman schildert Robert Harris den Aufstieg von Cicero in der Republik bis zum Konsul aus der Sicht seines Sekretärs Tiro. Wie Harris im Nachwort anmerkt, hat dieser tatsächlich eine Bibliografie Ciceros verfasst, die aber verloren gegangen ist. Robert Harris schafft es, Ciceros Karriere und seine herausragenden Fälle vor Gericht auf ungemein spannende Art und Weise und in flüssigem Schreibstil zu verfassen. Da kann kaum ein moderner Politthriller mithalten. Das Genie von Cicero kommt gut zur Geltung und verblüfft immer wieder. Dabei wird Cicero durchaus nicht nur aus strahlender Held dargestellt, die Handlungsweisen, auf die er zurückgreifen muss, um an die Macht zu kommen, sind nicht immer völlig ehrenhaft, jedoch wird auch ganz klar, dass es eben wichtig ist, dass er an die Macht kommt, da es keinen brillanteren Kopf in der römischen Republik gab. In der Politik gibt es genauso wenig wie in anderen Bereichen nur Schwarz und Weiß. Der Ich-Erzähler Tiro ist durchweg sympathisch und selbst ein kleines Genie, so hat er etwa die römische Kurzschrift entwickelt. Ein rundum gelungener Antikthriller und nur der erste Teil der Cicero-Trilogie. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, die beiden nächsten Teile zu lesen!
"How will posterity judge us, eh, Tiro?" he said. "That is the only question for a statesman. But before it can judge us, it must first remember who we are."
I should have read this book last year while listening to the relevant years in the History of Rome podcast, just because there were a couple of people I could not place, and there's nothing that can't be improved by a commentary in Mike Duncan's voice. But even with that caveat, this was such a gripping read.
I remembered enough history to know who would end up on which side, which made their first interactions or opinions even more interesting to follow; seeing how young Cato is presented was particularly fun considering the almost deific status he will assume later on, even more so as I recently read Seneca's Letters on Ethics where he gets mentioned twice on every page as this paragon of bravery and virtue.
Harris never attempts to simplify the complexity of the republican political system, but still managed to immerse me in what living, and being ambitious, in those times meant. I was so invested in bringing down Verres in the first part, and genuinely terrified for Cicero when he went against Catilina in the second. I loved Cicero and his cunning mind, and his relationship with his family and friends, especially Terentia, but I would've liked more from his friendship with Tiro. I hope we'll see more in the next book.
I should have read this book last year while listening to the relevant years in the History of Rome podcast, just because there were a couple of people I could not place, and there's nothing that can't be improved by a commentary in Mike Duncan's voice. But even with that caveat, this was such a gripping read.
I remembered enough history to know who would end up on which side, which made their first interactions or opinions even more interesting to follow; seeing how young Cato is presented was particularly fun considering the almost deific status he will assume later on, even more so as I recently read Seneca's Letters on Ethics where he gets mentioned twice on every page as this paragon of bravery and virtue.
Harris never attempts to simplify the complexity of the republican political system, but still managed to immerse me in what living, and being ambitious, in those times meant. I was so invested in bringing down Verres in the first part, and genuinely terrified for Cicero when he went against Catilina in the second. I loved Cicero and his cunning mind, and his relationship with his family and friends, especially Terentia, but I would've liked more from his friendship with Tiro. I hope we'll see more in the next book.
Took me a while to get into, but got me hooked. Looking forward to its sequel.
One of the periods I'm most interested in since I was a child, Harris succeeds in sucking you into the mess that was the end of the Roman Republic, as told through the eyes of a servant to of one of history's most famous (or the most famous) orators, Cicero.
One of the periods I'm most interested in since I was a child, Harris succeeds in sucking you into the mess that was the end of the Roman Republic, as told through the eyes of a servant to of one of history's most famous (or the most famous) orators, Cicero.
I enjoy reading historical fiction, but I always prefer more "history" and less "fiction." This is a nice example of that. The novel is a fictional narrative of ancient Rome from Cicero's personal attendant, so it includes many factual accounts in addition to direct quotes from Cicero's speeches. This let me forgive any poetic license the author took to make it an engaging read.
Unlike most stories set in this time, this one ignored all the military battles and focused instead on the judicial and political system. I enjoyed seeing this aspect, especially at the time period just before its collapse.
The book was written in 2006, and I couldn't help but notice several parallels with the modern American political system. Whether these were intentional or not, it was certainly amusing to see how easily the populace could be persuaded to give extraordinary power to one man in order to defend the country from a perceived outside threat.
Overall, I liked it. Harris has a very easy-going style that is easy to read while still being informative. Short chapters also helped make the reading go quickly.
Unlike most stories set in this time, this one ignored all the military battles and focused instead on the judicial and political system. I enjoyed seeing this aspect, especially at the time period just before its collapse.
The book was written in 2006, and I couldn't help but notice several parallels with the modern American political system. Whether these were intentional or not, it was certainly amusing to see how easily the populace could be persuaded to give extraordinary power to one man in order to defend the country from a perceived outside threat.
Overall, I liked it. Harris has a very easy-going style that is easy to read while still being informative. Short chapters also helped make the reading go quickly.
An entertaining book chronicalling the rise of Cicero, the greatest lawyer and politician the Roman Republic ever saw. Detailing both his political and advocacy triumphs and tribulations it exposes the flawed Roman political system with its bribery and corruption, but also its shining example of democracy in a troubled world which was to be lost with the rise of the empire only a few decades after the book finishes.
Told through the eyes of Cicero's secretary and slave Tiro it is an interesting read, mixing historical events with artistic license. As with his previous novel, Pompei, which I enjoyed a lot, the world of Ancient Rome is brought compellingly to life and you do feel embroiled in the workings of the senate and its close relationship with the city of Rome that all is built upon.
For all that the book felt like it could have explored the machinations of the Republic in greater deal and at times would have benefited from a less biased viewpoint in order to address some of the principle flaws in Cicero's character whilst developing others who surrounded him. As with any Harris novel it is written in more of a thriller style, making it quite the page turner, but without the complexity the subject matter deserved (an argument which cannot be levelled at Pompei).
Told through the eyes of Cicero's secretary and slave Tiro it is an interesting read, mixing historical events with artistic license. As with his previous novel, Pompei, which I enjoyed a lot, the world of Ancient Rome is brought compellingly to life and you do feel embroiled in the workings of the senate and its close relationship with the city of Rome that all is built upon.
For all that the book felt like it could have explored the machinations of the Republic in greater deal and at times would have benefited from a less biased viewpoint in order to address some of the principle flaws in Cicero's character whilst developing others who surrounded him. As with any Harris novel it is written in more of a thriller style, making it quite the page turner, but without the complexity the subject matter deserved (an argument which cannot be levelled at Pompei).
challenging
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated