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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
A thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating read. I have a passing interest in Roman history but this really brought alive the characters of Cicero and his secretary Tyro and explored the social and political systems of Ancient Rome in a wonderful, engaging way. The characterisation is brilliant, the writing very engaging and the plots, based on history, conjecture and speculation, are cleverly and brilliantly thought out. All in all a great book to begin the year on!
Pretty interesting perspective on Cicero, would have liked a bit more of the narrator’s personality to show through though.
In the first of his Cicero trilogy Robert Harris tells the story of Cicero through the eyes of his amanuensis and slave, Tiro. The events of the novel are well documented in history, but here Cicero's story is granted a kind of credibility that only well-written fiction is allowed. Rather than addressing the questions of subjectivity and interpretation that historical documents inevitably raise, the reader is free to believe Harris's wondrous conceit that Tiro was able to faithfully transcribe all of the conversations he heard in Cicero's company. Tiro's stenography is a fantastic ploy, and it works beautifully. Tiro is the perfectly objective witness: as a slave he is almost invisible to the story's insiders, and as Cicero's constant companion he never misses a thing. Harris is careful to leave his character undeveloped: Tiro is a sensitive cipher through whom all matters of importance pass untouched to the reader; he is at once both the least and most important person in the novel.
Aside from this ingenious device, I like the balanced way in which Harris portrays Cicero, though I suppose the device may be half the reason for this. Cicero is the hero of the story, so he gets a mostly positive treatment, with a few warts for verisimilitude. It isn't the literary feast of a Robert Graves, but a very enjoyable read nevertheless. I'm looking forward to the next installments in the series.
Aside from this ingenious device, I like the balanced way in which Harris portrays Cicero, though I suppose the device may be half the reason for this. Cicero is the hero of the story, so he gets a mostly positive treatment, with a few warts for verisimilitude. It isn't the literary feast of a Robert Graves, but a very enjoyable read nevertheless. I'm looking forward to the next installments in the series.
Robert Harris - Imperium
Imperium ist der Beginn der Cicero-Trilogie von Robert Harris und behandelt die römische Geschichte 80-64 v.Chr aus Sicht des Leibsekretärs (+Sklaven) Ciceros, Tiro. Dabei wird Ciceros früher Werdegang und der Wahlkampf zum Konsul beleuchtet.
Ich fand das Buch überragend gut. In der ersten Hälfte ist es ein Justizthriller Marke John Grisham aber eben im Setting des alten Roms, und im zweiten Teil, der mir noch besser gefiel, ist es ein Politthriller mit Intrigen, Bündnissen und Verrat, wie man es sich nur wünschen kann. Jeder, der die Tyrion-Kapitel in "A Clash of Kings" wegen der Politik darin mochte und nicht nur wegen Tyrions Schlagfertigkeit und Gedanken, der wird sich hier sehr wohl fühlen.
Das Buch hat sicher auch Nachteile (der Schreib- und Erzählstil ist recht trocken, da die ganze Geschichte als von Tiro geschriebene Biographie Ciceros inszeniert wird; die realen Gegenstücke, die man mit den vorkommenden Piraten assoziiert werden vielleicht etwas zu unsubtil angedeutet; die Charaktere sind auch selten komplex, auch bedingt durch die Erzählweise), aber der Inhalt sowie der Plot haben mich so sehr gepackt, dass ich es verschlungen habe. Geholfen hat mir sicher auch, dass mir Cicero, wie er hier dargestellt wird, durchaus sympathisch ist - ein zwar ehrgeiziger und oft auch sehr pragmatisch handelnder (braucht man wohl, um weit zu kommen) Politiker, der zwar seine Prinzipien hat, aber eben nur sehr grobe, und sich auch selten komplett an diese halten kann.
Außerdem kam mir sicher entgegen, dass mir von dieser Epoche des römischen Reiches aus meiner Bildung nur bekannt war, dass die römische Republik Probleme hat, und dass und wie (der schon vorkommende) Cäsar irgendwann stirbt.
Absolut klare Empfehlung - von mir sogar, sicher sehr subjektive 5/5.
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not at all the kind of book I would normally select to read but I loved this. Harris is a terrific writer and all his main characters leap off the page in glorious 3D. Looking forward to book two when the time is right.