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A gripping and apparently faithful recreation of the political intrigue of Ancient Rome. There's not a single morally clean character; that your gripped in spite of that is quite an achievement. It touches on themes of power and what is done to achieve it. My only disappointment being that it only described these dilemmas as opposed to seeking to really understand them.
A wonderful retelling of Cicero's rise to power, from his origins as an Arpinum-born lawyer to his eventual assumption of the consulship. I enjoyed it very much . . . I just wanted the story to continue into that fateful year of the consulship itself, and Catilina's conspiracy . . . .
Imperium is a novel based on the Roman Senator Cicero. The narrator voice in the book is Cicero's aid and slave Tulio. The events in the book actually happened though the dialog is the authors imagination. Cicero really had a slave named Tulio who was his assistant and who kept a written account of many of the events of the time. Those writings have been lost but there are plenty of other records that have informed historians, the author has used these resources in this book. This book could not be called a thriller or a mystery. However the conflicts in the Senate and the politics of the late Roman Republic make an exciting story.
Finally, it's done! My review will come next.
And, you know what, this Imperium is the first from Harris' trilogy on Cicero's life. The second will be published in late 2008.
Can hardly wait!
And, you know what, this Imperium is the first from Harris' trilogy on Cicero's life. The second will be published in late 2008.
Can hardly wait!
Българският изговор на латинските имена отдавна ме дразни. Всъщност, мисля, че българската историческа наука и литература приемат руската (дали?) номенклатура за изговор, която изхожда от късновизантийския правопис и премахва окончанията на някои имена, а добавя окончания на други. Така Маркус Тулиус Кикеро (MARKVS TVLIVS CICERO) се превръща в Марк Тулий Цицерон. Докато римляните са използвали букват "С" за да обозначат звука "твърдо К". Cato примерно запазва изговора на първата си буква, но пък незнайно защо и той придобива последна, ставайки Катон...
Все още блажено невеж относно мутациите, които ще претърпи името му след две хилядолетия, Цицерон е римски политик и адвокат, съвременник на Цезар (чието име всъщност римляните са произнасяли Кайсар) и е смятан дори днес за може би най-великият оратор, живял някога.
Периодът, в който и двамата са живели е най-обсъжданият и може би най-интересният в съществуването на римската държава - превръщането й от република в империя.
Imperium е първата от тилогията книги, които романизират живота на Цицерон и описват именно политическите процеси, довели първо до ерозията, а не след дълго и до пълното унищожение на демокрацията в Рим - и възкачването на първия император.
Интересно е да се види как именно популистите като Цезар и Помпей, които са популярни сред народа и уж се борят срещу аристокрацията, довеждат до разрушаване на демократичните институции. От тогава нещата не са се променили особено в политиката и популизмът и социализмът винаги са носители единствено на амбициите на безскрупулни политици, стремящи се към власт.
Все още блажено невеж относно мутациите, които ще претърпи името му след две хилядолетия, Цицерон е римски политик и адвокат, съвременник на Цезар (чието име всъщност римляните са произнасяли Кайсар) и е смятан дори днес за може би най-великият оратор, живял някога.
Периодът, в който и двамата са живели е най-обсъжданият и може би най-интересният в съществуването на римската държава - превръщането й от република в империя.
Imperium е първата от тилогията книги, които романизират живота на Цицерон и описват именно политическите процеси, довели първо до ерозията, а не след дълго и до пълното унищожение на демокрацията в Рим - и възкачването на първия император.
Интересно е да се види как именно популистите като Цезар и Помпей, които са популярни сред народа и уж се борят срещу аристокрацията, довеждат до разрушаване на демократичните институции. От тогава нещата не са се променили особено в политиката и популизмът и социализмът винаги са носители единствено на амбициите на безскрупулни политици, стремящи се към власт.
For a novel titled "Imperium," I found it odd that Cicero only manages to HAVE imperium for about the last six pages of the novel. I did enjoy following the story of his rise to power, though I found that I couldn't like him very much. I guess I find it hard to respect a character who is willing to change his stand or his loyalties simply to ensure his power increases. Welcome to politics, I guess. I also give credit to the author for not avoiding those personality flaws to make Cicero seem more heroic or lovable. I suppose there will be another installment, since Cicero's exploits certainly didn't end the day he attained the consulship.
Full disclosure: I LOVE historical fiction -- impeccably researched history fleshed out by the well-written and well-conceived imagining of what might have happened, or in some cases, what likely DID happen, is without a doubt my favorite genre...the joy of a novel with the added bonus of an education. On that note, this book did not disappoint. It is the first in a three-part series on the political rise and career of Cicero as told by his personal secretary (and slave) Tiro. Tiro, by the way, created the first shorthand system and some of the symbols/abbreviations he invented are still in use today (&, n.b., etc., et.al., i.e.) -- in fact, Cicero's speeches live on thanks to Tiro, who was also the first person to ever record a speech verbatim in the Roman senate. It's a fascinating read, particularly in this campaign season because what is abundantly clear is that politics have not changed AT ALL in thousands of years...it is astounding to see how similar the political intrigue, corruption, sleaze, crooked campaign financing, etc. (<- thanks, Tiro!) of ancient Rome are to what exists today. Swap out a few names and places and this book could easily be an account of the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. I've already started book 2 (Conspirata) because I can't wait for what comes next!
I know this sounds weird, but I love Cicero. I love his eloquent and passionate writing (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2466189111), his love of books and his humanism. There was no way I would not want to read some historical fiction about him, especially when I saw that Harris wrote his trilogy on Cicero from the point of view of Tiro. Cicero’s personal secretary wasn’t just a scribe: he invented the system we now think of as shorthand, and kept such a meticulous record of his master’s life that we owe most of what we know about Cicero to him. And yes, what I do for a living predisposes me to love long-suffering assistants. But let’s face it, most great men and women would be lost without the person who keeps their notes and timetables in order!
The first arc of Cicero’s story as told by Harris is about the famous corruption case of Verres, and the thorny process of election that brought him to the Senate – as well as the coming together of the First Triumvirate. As his private secretary, Tiro went everywhere with Cicero, and tells the story of his master’s investigation in Sicily, complicated political games and agile legal work in great detail. Even if there isn’t much room in this kind of narrative for atmosphere, Harris managed to make what can sound a bit dull (preparing a corruption trial and campaigning for the senate elections) pretty riveting – even if I already knew how the story unfolded.
The writing is good, but not lyrical; after reading John Williams’ excellent “Augustus” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1908237482), it’s difficult not to compare the style… Unlike Williams, Harris did not try to emulate the classical writing style, with all of its panache and vitriol, and I admit that I missed it. Having read some of Cicero’s writing, I was hoping his eloquence to shine a bit brighter on the page. That said, I find the story interesting enough to be on the look out for the sequels!
This is the kind of book that will appeal to fans of Roman history, but people who are unfamiliar with the historical characters might struggle a bit with all the Latin names, not to mention the ever-fickle alliances that causes them to switch allegiances constantly. 3 and a half stars.
The first arc of Cicero’s story as told by Harris is about the famous corruption case of Verres, and the thorny process of election that brought him to the Senate – as well as the coming together of the First Triumvirate. As his private secretary, Tiro went everywhere with Cicero, and tells the story of his master’s investigation in Sicily, complicated political games and agile legal work in great detail. Even if there isn’t much room in this kind of narrative for atmosphere, Harris managed to make what can sound a bit dull (preparing a corruption trial and campaigning for the senate elections) pretty riveting – even if I already knew how the story unfolded.
The writing is good, but not lyrical; after reading John Williams’ excellent “Augustus” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1908237482), it’s difficult not to compare the style… Unlike Williams, Harris did not try to emulate the classical writing style, with all of its panache and vitriol, and I admit that I missed it. Having read some of Cicero’s writing, I was hoping his eloquence to shine a bit brighter on the page. That said, I find the story interesting enough to be on the look out for the sequels!
This is the kind of book that will appeal to fans of Roman history, but people who are unfamiliar with the historical characters might struggle a bit with all the Latin names, not to mention the ever-fickle alliances that causes them to switch allegiances constantly. 3 and a half stars.
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
My first read of novel, based on historical research. I enjoyed being taken on a journey into ancient Rome, from the perspective of Tiro, Cicero's loyal slave/ confident. Robert Harris has an excellent narrative style, enhanced by the brilliance of its main protagonist.
I could not help but compare the ancient tribulations of political intrigue, with those of modern nations. Some of the greatest inequalities of ancient Rome are those of now; social inequality, slavery, corruption and a thirst for power, in its many guises.
Imperium may be a novel about the struggle for power be it by might or via the fight for a just cause. The strengths and flaws of Cicero, reflect a character, who seeks to navigate his way through a complex society and it's laws. Cicero flourishes in the field of law, against his main rivals, through his intellect, careful liaison with lesser rivals and cultivated friendships.
I could not help but compare the ancient tribulations of political intrigue, with those of modern nations. Some of the greatest inequalities of ancient Rome are those of now; social inequality, slavery, corruption and a thirst for power, in its many guises.
Imperium may be a novel about the struggle for power be it by might or via the fight for a just cause. The strengths and flaws of Cicero, reflect a character, who seeks to navigate his way through a complex society and it's laws. Cicero flourishes in the field of law, against his main rivals, through his intellect, careful liaison with lesser rivals and cultivated friendships.