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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I keep discovering these gaping holes in my education. Before listening to the audio version of Robert Harris’s Imperium, my total knowledge of Cicero had been something along the lines of “famous old Roman guy in a toga”. In Imperium, Harris tells the fascinating story of the great Cicero, told by his slave secretary Tiro.
The audio version was read by actor Simon Jones. Jones’s delivery made me feel like I was sitting in on a secret political strategy meeting of Cicero and his supporters.
It is striking how history repeats itself. Tiro’s descriptions of political demagogues, populist land reform schemes, and even a trumped up war against pirates to increase executive political powers are proof of what Cicero said more than 2000 years ago: “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.”
The audio version was read by actor Simon Jones. Jones’s delivery made me feel like I was sitting in on a secret political strategy meeting of Cicero and his supporters.
It is striking how history repeats itself. Tiro’s descriptions of political demagogues, populist land reform schemes, and even a trumped up war against pirates to increase executive political powers are proof of what Cicero said more than 2000 years ago: “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.”
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
’We really must secure an acquittal. If only to spare the dog, the cock and the viper the ordeal of being sewn in a sack with Popillii.’
I am a big fan of Robert Harris each of his books are a history lesson with a fictional spin that is both riveting and educational. I am a lover of history but I would say that I am picky about the history I enjoy; Ancient Roman isn’t something I have ever been interested in but with Imperium the first of a trilogy about Cicero and Harris brought Cicero and Rome to life for me. Part one brings us the tale of Cicero’s early rise into the back-biting politics of the Roman Senate and how it must have influenced the government we have today, it shows that politics has never changed, it is corrupt and corruptible where the rich are the ones in power and are willing to do anything to remain in power.
While the book is relatively short, for me it did start to get a little bogged down towards the end. I will probably wait a couple of weeks before beginning book two but it is a tale I wanted to finish.
I wrote down a quote from the book that played in my mind as I feel that as a race we refused to learn from history.
’To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?’
I am a big fan of Robert Harris each of his books are a history lesson with a fictional spin that is both riveting and educational. I am a lover of history but I would say that I am picky about the history I enjoy; Ancient Roman isn’t something I have ever been interested in but with Imperium the first of a trilogy about Cicero and Harris brought Cicero and Rome to life for me. Part one brings us the tale of Cicero’s early rise into the back-biting politics of the Roman Senate and how it must have influenced the government we have today, it shows that politics has never changed, it is corrupt and corruptible where the rich are the ones in power and are willing to do anything to remain in power.
While the book is relatively short, for me it did start to get a little bogged down towards the end. I will probably wait a couple of weeks before beginning book two but it is a tale I wanted to finish.
I wrote down a quote from the book that played in my mind as I feel that as a race we refused to learn from history.
’To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?’
Really interesting novel about Cicero's rise to prominence in Rome.
Tactically waited to finish this until January 1st so that I'd have a running start on my annual reading challenge.
Anyway, this was fine, if not one of Harris's best.
Anyway, this was fine, if not one of Harris's best.
Intrigues, betrayals, calculations, corruption - nothing has ever changed in human nature. It was the rich elites, privileged citizens, slaves and entertainment to the plebs then and it is the same now.
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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!